Copyright,  1884. 
M.  P.  THATCHER. 


DETROIT: 

L.  F.  KILROY,  PRINTER, 
187  Jefferson  Ave. 


DEDICATED 
TO  THE 

"GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC," 

THE  RECORD  OF  WHOSE 
DEEDS   WILL  GROW  BRIGHTER 

AS    EACH 
SUCCEEDING  GENERATION    READS  FOR  THE 

FIRST   TIME   OF   YOUR 

TRIALS,  SUFFERINGS   AND   VICTORIES. 

FRATERNITY   BEGAT  AMID   SUCH   SCENES   MUST   LEAD 

TO    THE 
GREATEST   OF   ALL   VIRTUES — CHARITY, 

AND    FROM    THIS 

LOYALTY   FOLLOWS  AS   NATURALLY   AS   GOD'S 
BLESSING  WAITS  UPON  ALL  GOOD  DEEDS. 

WISHING    YOU 
MAY   LIVE  A   HUNDRED   YEARS 

AND    NOT  AGAIN    BE 
CALLED  TO  TAKE  UP  ARMS, 

I    REMAIN, 

FRATERNALLY  YOURS, 
THE  AUTHOR. 


M161667 


PREFACE 


"All  are  but  parts  of  one  stupendous  whole,"  and  it  is  with  the 
hope  that  this  very  small  part  of  the  history  of  our  beloved 
country  will  find  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  not  a  few,  that  it  is 
sent  out  into  the  world,  craving  indulgence  for  imperfections, 
and  justice  if  merit  is  discovered. 

This  work  was  begun  as  a  history  of  the  Second  Regiment  of 
Michigan  Cavalry,  a  regiment  that  started  from  an  obscure  posi 
tion  in  the  regular  army  Gordon  Granger  toward  a  major-gen 
eralship  and  Philip  Henry  Sheridan  to  the  proud  position  of  the 
brightest  military  genius  of  the  age  in  which  he  won  his  stars. 

As  the  work  of  searching  the  records  begun,  it  was  found  im 
possible  to  limit  the  writings  to  the  doings  of  one  regiment,  and 
so  you  have  here  a  partial  history  (written  impartially}  of  the 
war  of  1861-5.  General  Logan  truthfully  said  "the  full  history 
of  the  Great  Rebellion  will  never  be  known  until  every  regiment 
and  every  company  has  been  heard  from. " 

Official  and  private  records  have  yielded  up  their  treasures 
freely,  and  have  been  carefully  compared  and  revised  with  the 
writer's  own  journal  as  the  groundwork.  There  was  no  need  of 
fiction,  for  truth  was  stranger  far,  in  every  instance  worth  re 
cording. 

Nor  has  this  been  written  to  glorify  anyone;  and  it  can  be 
read  in  the  knowledge  of  one  fact — the  writer  was  practically  an 
outside  witness,  serving  most  of  the  time  as  a  staff  officer,  near 


yiii  PREFACE. 

his  regiment,  and  usually  in  the  same  brigade  or  division ;  and 
therefore  while  he  writes  principally  of  what  passed  before  his 
eyes,  he  was  not  always  among  the  most  active  partakers  in  the 
incidents  here  narrated,  and  is  not,  therefore,  in  any  sense  writ 
ing  of  himself. 

Lieutenant  Edwin  Hoyt,  Jr.,  who  served  first  as  sergeant-ma 
jor  and  later  as  adjutant,  and  still  later  as  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral  to  the  brigade  commander,  has  kindly  furnished  many  facts, 
and  his  judgment  as  a  clear-headed  chronicler,  unprejudiced  by 
regimental  pride,  is  recognized,  and  appreciated. 

It  has  been  found  simply  impossible  to  separate  the  record  of 
this  regiment  from  that  of  others,  since  it  has  been  shown  that 
by  the  character  of  their  arms  they  were  constantly  brought  into 
contact  with  every  branch  of  the  service,  and  their  history  is 
blended  with  each  and  all  of  them. 

It  may  appear  to  the  most  active  participants  in  this  regiment's 

history,  that  this  record   is    too    moderate.     Adjutant-General 

Robertson   says  "that   was   always   a   fault   of   your  historian, 

when  an  occasional  war  correspondent;   he   did   not    'blow'   as 

others  would  have  done."      Let  others  judge. 

To  the  nervous  reader,  a  word.  The  horrors  of  the  battlefield 
have  been  touched  upon  as  lightly  as  possible.  The  same  tem 
per  of  mind  which  unconsciously  puts  aside  tales  of  horror  in 
the  daily  papers,  murders,  disasters,  etc.,  would  not  delight  in 
perpetuating  such  disagreeable  subjects. 

General  Sherman  said  truly  when  he  said,  "War  is  hell."  We 
certainly  want  as  little  of  it  as  possible;  but  aside  from  that  pic 
ture  of  it  there  are  many  valuable  lessons  to  be  learned,  as  well  as 
interesting  incidents  that  are  worth  reading  and  preserving,  and 


PREFACE.  IX 

you  have  this  picture  from  one  who  has  tears  to  shed  for  every 
wound,  and  whose  hand  was  never  lifted  against  individuals, 
but  against  a  common  enemy. 

No  doubt  many  pen  sketches  herein  given  to  the  public  for 
the  first  time  will  be  criticised  by  those  who  witnessed  other 
parts  of  the  field  as  "not  according  to  my  remembrance;"  but  we 
all  know  how  individuals  differ  upon  the  same  subject,  viewed 
from  different  standpoints,  and  I  have  in  many  instances  given 
way  to  the  weight  of  evidence  as  gathered  from  others  whose 
positions  were  such  as  to  warrant  thej>robability  of  their  correct 
ness. 

There  is  one  point  upon  which  this  volume  can  be  referred  to 
with  pride — it  contains  very  little  that  can  be  called  "old."  A 
special  effort  has  been  made  to  print  only  "unpublished  records," 
and  with  only  two  unimportant  exceptions  that  idea  has  been 
followed. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

THE  organization  of  a  company.  —  Leaf   from    a    diary.  —  Off   for 

Grand  Rapids.        ........  17 

CHAPTER  II. 

DETAILS  of  Organization.  —  Sketch  of  the  Captains  and  Companies. 

—The  Field  and  Staff.        .......  20 

CHAPTER  IIL 

OFF  for  St.  Louis.  —  An  ovation  all  along  the  line.  —  Horses  follow 

in  sections  of  trains.  —Incidents  by  the  way.  —  Camp  Benton.  27 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  finishing  touches.  —  Farewell  to  Benton  Barracks.  —  Lambs  to 
the  slaughter.  —  Commerce,  Mo.  —  Jeff.  Thompson's  light  artil 
lery.  —  A  night  in  the  mud.  —  New  Madrid.  —  The  baptism  of 
fire.  ..."..  ......  32 

CHAPTER  Y. 

AFLOAT  on  the  Mississippi  .  —  Off  for  Memphis.  —  Counter  march  to 
Pittsburg  Landing  .  —  A  muddy  business  .  —  Monterey  .  —  Farming- 
ton  .  —  In  front  of  Corinth  —  General  Pope.  ...  39 

CHAPTEP  VI. 

THE  Mississippi  campaign  .  —  The  raid  on   Booneville  .  —  Philip  H. 

Sheridan.—  Blackland.—  Baldwin.         ......  46 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  North  Mississippi  campaign.  —  "Pine  Hills."  —  Back  to  Boone 

ville.—  The  second  Booneville.—  Rienzi.—  A  flag  of  truce.         .        58- 


CONTENTS.  Xi 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAGE. 

FROM  Corinth  to  Perry ville . —Col.  Phil  gets  a  star.— Colonel  Archie 
Campbell .  —Cincinnati .  —Louisville .  —General  Buell .  —Rous 
seau  and  Sheridan.— Loomis.— Perry  ville.  .  .  .  70 

CHAPTER  IX. 

AFTER  the  battle. — Confederate  retreat. — A  flag  of  truce. — "We 

will  bury  your  dead,   move  on." — Sweeping  the  state.        .        .        88 

CHAPTER  X. 

CARTER'S  raid.—  750  miles  in  twenty  days.— Mountain  paths.— 
Among  the  Icouds. — Bushwhacked. — Capturing  forts. — Hum 
phrey  Marshall.— Cutting  communications . —Burning  bridges.  94 

CHAPTER  XI. 

RECUPERATING.— Pleasant  hours  short  lived.— Farewell  to  Ken 
tucky.— General  Green  Clay  Smith.— Brentwood.— Thomp 
son's  Station.  .  .•  .  H2 

CHAPTER  XII. 

MIDDLE  TENNESSEE.— Three  months  of  post  duty  with  the  variations. 
—Colonel  Watkinsand  Colonel  Campbell.— McGarrick's  Ford.— 
Numerous  small  fights.  ...  122 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  Tennessee  campaign . —Franklin  to  Triune . —Triune  to  Frank 
lin.— Stirring  up  General  Armstrong.— Return  to  Triune.— The 
grand  forward  move.— Rain  and  mud.— Guy's  gap.— A  grand 
cavalry  charge . —Shelby ville.  ...  128 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

STEVENSON,  ALABAMA.— The  army  concentrating.— Immense  depot 
of  supplies.— Sickness.— Over  mountain  and  moor.— Scouting 
through  Georgia.—  Lafayette.—  Crawfish  Springs  and  Chica- 
mauga. — Chattanooga  ours.  .  .  137 

CHAPTER  XV. 

VICTORY  out  of  defeat.— Reflections  not  designed  as  critical.— Great 
soldiers.— Wheeler's  Raid.— Destroys  a  1,000  wagon  train.— A 
wild  chase.— Camp  life.— A  ferry  disaster.  151 


xii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

PAGE 

EAST  TENNESSEE. — Climbing  mountains — Bushwhacked — Dandridge 

"Races." — A  lively  campaign  and  many  hardships.        .        .  159 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MOSSY  CREEK. — A  trick  which  did  not  work. — A  fight,  sharp,  short, 

decisive. — An   artillery  duel.        .        .        .    •    .        .        .  167 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SEVEREVILLE  or  Fair  Garden. — A  midnight  retreat.— A  morning's  ad 
vance. — A  dead  line. — Storming  bridge  and  barricade.  .  174 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

VETERANS.— Severeville  to  Cleveland. — Florence. — Shoal  Creek. — 
Forrest  and  Roddy. — The  non-veterans  and  the  Atlanta  cam 
paign. — Lieutenant  Darrow. — Captain  Fargo's  flag  of  truce. — 
Pulaski.— Franklin.— Cypress  Creek.  .  179 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE      Hood      campaign.—  Florence.— Shoal    Creek.— Pontoons.— 

A  faithful  negro. — Beginning  of  Hood's  advance.        .  191 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

HOOD'S  Race  with  Schofield.— Columbia.— Spring  Hill.— The  Harpeth. 
—"Halt!"— The  butchery  at  Franklin.— Stanley.-Wilson.— Cox. 
—Hatch.— Croxton.— Schofield' s  report.  ....  197 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

BATTLE  of  Nashville. — Hood's  army  demoralized. — Cavalry  captur 
ing  earthworks. — Capturing  prisoners. — What  Hood  said. — "The 
retreat." — Thomas's  report 219 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

HOOD  ''loses  his   grip"  and  resigns. — Forrest's  narrow  escape. — A 

battalion  charges  a  division. — Closing  scenes.        .        .        .  235 


CONTENTS.  XI  11 


PAGE. 

GENERAL  POPE  ............  247 

GENERAL  ELLIOTT  ..........  348 

GENERAL  STANLEY  ......        .  .        .        .249 

GENERAL  EDWARD  HATCH  .....        ....  250 

ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND  ......        ...  253 

COMMANDERS.  .        .                .        .        .        1        .        .        .        .  254 

STONE  RIVER  —  GENERAL  ROSECRANS.        .        .                .        .        .  256 

GORDON  GRANGER.      .       .        ,        .        ...        .        .        .  270 

PHILIP  H.  SHBHIDAN  ......        ...        .  277 

SHERIDAN'S  HORSE.      .        .        .        .        ,  .       .....  291 

GENERAL  STANLEY.        .        .        .        .        .        .                .        .  292 

GENERAL  WILSON.       .        .        .       '.'•'.-.        .        .        .        .  294 

R.  H.  G.  MINTY  .......        .        .        .  '      .  301 

CROXTON'S  BRIGADE.    .        .                        .        ......  304 

INCIDENTS  AT  FRANKLIN  —  MRS.  SNYDER  .....        .  307 

W.  D.    MOODY.          .        .        .                 .        .        ....  313 

A  DYING  CONFEDERATE.       .        .        .        .        .        .        .  315 

A  HORRID  SCENE.   .  .        .........  316 

THE  SECOND  BATTERY  AT  SHILOH.        ...        .        .        .  317 

THE  GLASGOW  COLLISION  .....        .        .        .        ...  318 

LEFT  ON  THE  FIELD.            .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  320 

A  DARING  SCOUT.       .  .        .        „       .    •    '.        .....  324 

THE  ROMANCE  OF  WAR.          .....        ...  327 

SURGEON  CHARLES  L.  HENDERSON.             ......  330 

SURGEON  WILLIAM  BROWNELL.     .         :        .                .        .        .  330 

SURGEON  W.  F.  GREEN  .......                         .  331 

NOTES  BY  W.  F.  GREEN.         .        .        .        .        .        .       .        .  332 

SURGEON  GEORGE  E.  RANNEY.             .        .        ...        .        .  333 

NOTES  BY  GEORGE  E.  RANNEY.      .        .        .        .        .        .  335 

COMMISSARY  LAWRENCE  .......  338 

IN  THE  HOSPITAL  ......        .....  339 

LIEUTENANT  R.  T.  DARROW  ......  341 

TURNING  THE  TIDE.        .        .        .        ...        .        .  343 

•I  i  M  BROWNLOW  CAPTURED  .....        .        .        .        .343 

"  FIVE  DOLLARS  FOR  THAT  REB."   .......  344 

"WALK  AROUND."        .        .        .  345 

BURNT  HIS  FINGERS.        .        .            '  346 

HERE'S  YOUR  MULE.      ....  348 

DESTROYING  PONTOONS  ........        .        .  350 

COMPLIMENTS  TO  WIRT  ADAMS.  .        .  357 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

LEAVES  FROM  A  DIARY 359 

A  SCOUT  ON  FOOT 364 

"DiD  THEY  STING?" 366 

AN  INTERRUPTED  WEDDING 367 

HORSE  SENSE. .  368 

LUCKY  ESCAPES. 370 

WEAER'S  COVE .        .        .        .  373 

A  BULL  RUN  HERO 378 

A  LIVELY  PRISONER .        .        ,.       .  379 

A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE „ .  380 

SCOUTING  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA.      .        .        .        ,        ....  382 

DODGING  SHELLS .        .  384 

UNEXPLODED  SHELLS .  386 

WHO  HIT  CHALMERS  AT  BOONEVILLE  ?.....,  386 

RUNNING  THE  GAUNTLET 387 

A  CORPORAL'S  GUARD  MAKES  A  RECONNAISSANCE       ....  388 

UNDER  ARREST.       .        .        .....        .        .        .  389 

ONE  DAY  NEARER  ATLANTA 391 

WHY  CHEATHAM  DID  NOT  GET  THERE.    .        ,        .        .        .        .  392 

GENERAL  CHEATHAM'S  STORY .        .        .  393 

CAVALRY  AND  GUNBOATS.       .        .        .                .        .        .        .  400 

CAPTURING  OUTPOSTS. .  401 

STRAINING  A  POINT  TO  SAVE  A  LIFE.      .        .                .        .        .  403 

AN  OMEN 406 

ALLEGED  OUTRAGES.      .        .        .        .        .        .                .        . .  407 

CAPTAIN  AVERY. 408 

LOOMIS'S  BATTERY. .        .        .  410 

A  LONELY  GRAVE .        .  -       .  411 

DIED  GAME. — A  YOUTHFUL  SOLDIER 413 

COURTING  DEATH 414 

Too  MUCH  GOLD.— DISCIPLINE.      .                415 

THE  LAST  BATTLE.  416 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

THE  AUTHOR.       .        .        .        ;     ..        .        .        .        .    FRONTISPIECE. 

ARMS  AND  ACCOUTREMENTS.    .        .        .        .....        .  26 

MOUNTED  DRAGOON.    .        .        ...        .        .        .        .  31 

BENTON  BARRACKS.          .....        .        .        .        .  33 

MAP  OF  NEW  MADRID.         .  '      .        . 34 

FORAGERS 36 

GORDON  GRANGER .        .  48 

BOONEVILLE,  MlSS .                           •                ,  64 

MAP  OF  BOONEVILLE 65 

PHILIP  H.  SHERIDAN.      .        .        .        .        .        .  "     .        .        .  .  80 

MAP  OF  PERRYVILLE 76 

NIGHT  SCENE  AT  PERRYVILLE.        .        .               ...        .  83 

MAJOR  L.  S.  SCRANTON.      .        . 117 

SHELLS.    .        ...        .        .        .        .        .        .  121 

COL.  A.  P.  CAMPBELL 125 

CHICAMAUGA .        .        .  144 

POINT  LOOKOUT 148 

MAP  OF  CHICAMAUGA 152 

MAP  OF  DANDRIDGE 162 

CAPTAIN  JAS.  H.  SMITH 165 

CAPTAIN  J.  M.  WEATHERWAX 171 

CAPTAIN  DAN  T.  FARGO.         ......  186 

LIEUTENANT  RUSSELL  T.  D ARROW 190 

MAP  OF  FRANKLIN, 206 

MAP  OF  NASHVILLE.     .        .        .        .        .        .  219 

FIELD  AND  STAFF.                    .        .  244 

SHERIDAN'S  HORSE.      .        .        .                . .  291 

LIEUT. -COL.  BEN.  SMITH s  . '  305 

MAJOR  W.  H.  WHITTEMORE.      .        .        .        .        .        .  358 

COL.  THOMAS.  W.  JOHNSTON.  859 


SECOND  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY. 


CHAPTER    I. 

<*w 

THE    ORGANIZATION    OP    A    COMPANY— LEAF     FROM    A    DIARY OFF 

FOR    GRAND    RAPIDS. 

During  the  war  it  was  common  to  hear  soldiers  talking 
about  how  they  came  to  enlist.  Some  stoutly  insisted  that 
patriotism  was  the  first  grand  incentive  to  the  personal  sacrifice; 
others  with  a  show  of  modesty  "went  for  the  fun  of  it" — "ex 
citement" — "a  chance  to  see  something  of  the  world" — "ambi 
tion" — "position" — "distinction" — and  now  and  again  we  just 
heard  of  some  one  who  went  to  find  solace  for  a  "bruised  heart." 
Perhaps  a  few  leaves  from  an  old  diary  may  show  the  average 
soldier's  reasons,  the  why  and  the  how,  and  all  about  it. 

August  25.—  I  see  in  every  newspaper  reports  of 

the  grand  success  in  recruiting  volunteers  for  the  war  just  fairly 
begun  in  the  Southern  States.  *  * .  * 


18  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

The  old  Flag  is  in  danger;  already  the  bones  of  many  of  my 
countrymen  are  bleaching  in  the  Southern  sun.  We 

do  not  fully  realize  our  country's  situation.  We  hear  of  battles 
but  they  sound  like  tales  of  other  days.  We  do  not  see  the 
smoke  of  battles  nor  hear  the  roar  of  artillery,  the  rattle  of 
musketry  nor  the  bugle's  call.  The  drum  goes  rattling  through 
the  street,  keeping  time  with  the  shrill  piping  of  the  fife  and  the 
tramp  of  armed,  undisciplined  troops.  This  is  all  we  see  or 
know.  But  here  is  something  we  can  all  understand.  Its  every 
word  is  an  electric  shock  that  tingles  the  blood  and  sends  it  rush 
ing  through  the  veins.  A  proclamation  by  Jefferson  Davis, 
styling  himself  "President  of  the  Confederate  States  of  Ameri 
ca."  Here  it  is:  "All  Northern  men  will  leave  the  Southern 
States  within  thirty  days,"  etc.,  etc.  It  is  signed  August  15, 
1861.  *  *  * 

The  news  of  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek  comes  to  us, 
pictured  with  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war.  Convalescent,  sick 
and  wounded  from  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  are  straggling  home. 
This  is  no  boys'  play.  I  must  enlist.  Young  and  unmarried — 
why  not?  *  *  * 

The  nearest  recruiting  office  is  gathering  men  for  the 
cavalry.  I  enter,  a  stranger  to  everyone.  The  man  recognized 
as  captain  is  large,  of  fine  physique;  his  bearing  indicates  the 
leader,  "Born  to  command."  The  company  appear  anxious  to 
join  the  first  regiment,  nearly  full  at  Detroit.  If  they  fail  to 
enter  there,  perhaps  they  will  take  them  in  the  second,  just  be 
gun  at  Grand  Rapids.  The  material  of  this  company  thus  far 
is  good,  judging  from  one  standpoint — they  are  always  ready 
for  a  fight.  *  *  *  *  * 

We  have  received  word  from  Colonel  Brodhead  of  the  First 
Cavalry  that  his  regiment  is  full,  therefore  we  must  go  into  the 
second,  and  we  are  very  anxious  to  get  to  Grand  Rapids  before 
that  regiment  is  also  full. 

Sept.  9. — On  our  way  to  Grand  Rapids,  transportation  fail 
ing  to  meet  us  in  time  we  stay  at  the  Grand  Trunk  and  Milwau 
kee  Junction,  sleeping  on  straw  in  a  little  old  freight  house. 


IN    THE    WEST.  19 

This  is  our  first  bivouac — without  tents,  blankets  or  supper.  In 
the  absence  of  arms  a  corporal's  guard  would  have  no  trouble  in 
"surrounding  us." 

Sept.  10. — The  arrangements  for  transportation  are  so  ex 
asperating  that  we  make  our  own  contracts  for  a  car  and  fill  it. 
"Some  days  must  be  dark  and  dreary,"  but  this  dark,  rainy  day 
did  not  in  the  least  dampen  our  ardor,  for  the  racket  is  much 
like  an  excursion  to  a  prize  fight  or  a  picnic. 

We  will  leave  our  friend's  diary  for  the  present,  believing 
that  the  foregoing  will  serve  to  show  the  true  spirit  that  actuated 
the  great  mass  of  those  who  took  their  lives  in  their  hands  and 
went  out  to  fight — perchance  to  die,  for  the  Union. 

And  this  was  but  one  of  twelve  companies,  each  of  which 
could  doubtless  tell  a  similar  story,  showing  how  from  a 
heterogeneous  mass  the  very  beginning  of  the  organization  of 
the  regiment  was  made. 


CHAPTER  II. 

DETAILS  OF     ORGANIZATION — SKETCH  OF  THE  CAPTAINS    AND    COM 
PANIES THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

The  second  regiment  of  Michigan  cavalry  was  organized 
by  the  Hon.  F.  W.  Kellogg,  under  authority  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  upon  a  commission  as  colonel  from  Governor  Austin 
Blair.  About  the  middle  of  July,  1861,  preparations  were  made 
at  Grand  Rapids  for  quartering  the  cavalry  troops,  but  at 
first  these  arrangements  were  very  imperfect;  a  company  being 
placed  here  and  there  in  vacant  buildings — some  upon  the  west 
side  of  the  river  near  Pearl  street  bridge,  but  more  in  a  row  of 
wooden  buildings  opposite  the  gas  works  on  Ottawa  street. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  importance  to  the  regiment  was  the 
appointment  of  William  C.  Davies,  of  Detroit,  as  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  with  him  a  full  complement  of  field  and  staff  officers 
— Majors,  Adjutants,  Surgeons  and  Quartermasters  with  their 
non-commissioned  staff  sergeants. 

As  fast  as  each  company  received  their  minimum  number, 
the  captains'  and  lieutenants'  names  were  reported  to  the  gover 
nor  for  commissions. 

During  this  recruiting  period  the  regiment  had  been  gather 
ing  together  upon  the  fair  grounds  where  additional  barracks  had 


IN    THE    AVEST.  21 

been  erected  and  the  preliminary  steps  toward  becoming  a  sol 
dier  had  been  taken.  The  first  of  these  was  the  medical  ex 
amination;  stripped  before  a  board  of  surgeons,  assisted  by  the 
surgeons  of  the  regiment.  The  name,  age,  hight,  complexion, 
color  of  the  hair  and  eyes  were  all  duly  entered  on  the  rolls. 

Straw  and  army  blankets  were  issued  and  we  laid  down  side 
by  side,  on  the  floor  and  in  bunks,  perhaps  to  think  of  pleasant 
homes,  the  girl  we  left  behind,  or  float  away  to  dream-land  and 
scenes  of  carnage.  Our  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper  consisted 
of  bread,  potatoes  and  meat,  tea  or  coffee,  and  our  meals  were  at 
stated  hours.  We  marched  into  the  dining  sheds  under  orders 
and  opposite  our  respective  tin  cups  and  plates,  where  we  halted 
and  sat  down  at  a  rough  board  table.  As  we  look  back  upon 
that  scene  over  an  interval  filled  with  incidents  more  stirring, 
we  wonder  at  the  fastidiousness  of  volunteers,  when  some  officer 
flushed  with  the  victories  of  camp  life — a  winner  in  the  race 
for  shoulder  straps — in  loud  tones  proclaims  that  his  "men  shall 
not  eat  with  rusty  forks"  and  boldly  flings  the  disgraced  weapon 
into  outer  darkness. 

Occasionally  some  party  would  fancy  themselves  wronged  by 
the  provisions  contractor;  for  it  will  be  remembered  we  did  not 
cook  our  own  rations  at  this  camp — "Anderson"  as  it  was  called, 
but  they  were  furnished  by  contract,  and  so  it  often  fell  out  that 
the  soup  would  be  a  trifle  burned — the  coffee  just  a  trifle  "off" 
or  the  beef  a  year  or  two  older  than  necessary — the  butter  might 
not  have  been  exactly  bad,  nor  yet  very  good;  still  we  were  all 
agreed  afterwards  that  "Camp  Anderson  butter  was  not  the 
worst  we  ever  saw." 

Military   discipline   was   immediately   commenced,  and  the 


22  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

bugle  sounded  reveille,  roll  call,  guard  mounting  and  drilling  by 
tactics, — Hardie's tactics — "Right  face!  left  face!  about  face! 
front  face!  eyes  right!  eyes  left!  head  and  shoulders  up!  for 
ward  march!  backward  march!  parade  rest!" — Day  after  day, 
until  the  shuffling  gait  changed  for  the  upright,  prompt,  sharp 
steps  of  a  soldier. 

The  officers  had  their  duties — making  out  muster  rolls, 
drawing  clothing  and  supplies  from  the  quartermasters,  etc. 

Soon  we  had  sufficient  numbers  to  form  platoons  and  drill  by 
companies;  then  battalion  drill,  and  afterwards  the  full  regi 
ment  assembled  for  dress  parade;  and  I  think  we  shall  never 
forget  that  first  parade  under  command  of  our  little  lieutenant 
colonel,  whose  short  thick  stature,  fierce  black  mustache,  dangl 
ing  sword  and  rattling  spurs  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure; 
nor  how,  after  listening  to  a  few  not  very  intelligible  orders  we 
soon  executed  a  flank  movement  on  our  quarters. 

The  officers  visited  the  city  and  purchased  shoulder  straps, 
feathers,  plumes,  gold  lace  and  high  top  boots,  and  one  by  one 
the  companies  were  completed  in  numbers  and  outfit  except 
horses  and  arms. 

Company"A,"  Captain  Godley,  was  the  first  to  march  the 
streets  of  Grand  Rapids  in  full  uniform,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Carter.  They  were  a  body  of  large  men,  mostly  from  the 
lumber  camps  and  mills  of  the  Saginaw  valley,  and  made  a  fine 
appearance, 

Company  "G,"  Captain  Fred  Fowler,  with  his  farmer 
boys  from  Hillsdale  in  full  uniform — white  gloves,  large  plume 
in  the  captain's  hat,  marched  in  full  ranks  to  the  Congregational 
church  and  took  front  spats  in  the  gallery. 


IN    THE    WEST.  23 

Captain  Ben.  Whitman's  Company — "E,"  from  Muskegon, 
was  another  body  of  stalwart  lumbermen  who  looked  as  if  they 
would  be  equally  at  home  with  rifle,  pistol,  saber  or  ax. 

Captain  Ben  Smith;  of  Company  "D,"  would  sit  up  later  and 
work  harder  for  a  joke  than  any  man  in  the  regiment,  and  his 
company  of  Hollanders  gave  a  good  account  of  themselves, 
whether  the  captain  or  his  wife  was  in  command. 

Captain  Goodale,  Company  "I,"  was  a  good  natured,  jolly  old 
boy  from  Kalamazoo.  His  men  had  their  own  way  mostly  in 
company  affairs  and  seemed  to  enjoy  themselves  as  they  went 
along,  yet  they  were  on  hand  in  every  fight. 

Captain  Peck,  of  Company  "F,"  was  from  Lowell  with  lieu 
tenants  from  Grand  Rapids.  His  company  enjoyed  the  reputa 
tion  of  being  a  well  behaved,  soldierly  lot  of  men,  always  ready 
for  duty  of  any  kind. 

Captain  Archie  P.  Campbell,  of  Company  "K,"  was  from  Port 
Huron  and  his  company  had  the  name  of  doing  more  fighting  in 
camp  and  out  than  any  other  company  in  the  regiment.  They 
were  mostly  rough  lumbermen  and  log  runners  from  the  Black 
River,  St.  Clair  county,  and  would  stick  by  their  leader  in  war 
or  peace. 

Captain  H.  A.  Shaw  Company  "B,"  was  from  Eaton  Rapids. 
He  was  once  Speaker  of  the  House  at  Lansing  and  was  ever 
ready  to  speak  when  occasion  required,  and  his  boys  would  do 
anything  they  were  told  to.  They  occupied  the  second  post  of 
honor — the  left  of  the  regiment. 

Captain  B.  P.  Wells,  of  Niles,  commanded  Company  "L." 
He  was  one  of  the  few  who  were  apparently  satisfied  with  their 
positions  and  looked  for  no  higher  honor  than  to  command  Com 
pany  L,  who  were  always  ready  to  obey  quietly. 


24  HUNDRED    IJATTLKS 

Company  "H"  was  commanded  by  Captain  C.  E.  Newman, 
who  wore  a  stunning  hat  and  feather,  but  had  a  good  company 
of  men  from  Utica,  Macomb  county. 

Captain  R.  A.  Alger,  of  Company  "C,"  took  commendable 
pride  in  his  own  personal  appearance  and  that  of  his  men.  They 
were  mostly  from  Grand  Rapids  and  the  ladies  could  all  point 
out  Captain  Alger's  company. 

Captain  F.  W.  Dickey,  of  Company  "M,"  was  from  Marshall; 
His  men  were  well  up  in  size,  personal  appearance  and  drill. 
If  the  captain  had  a  weakness  it  was  his  love  for  a  good  horse. 

The  field  and  staff  were  made  up  of  men  from  various  walks 
in  life  and  from  different  parts  of  the  State. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  C.  Davies  was  the  real  organizer  and 
commander  of  the  regiment.  He  came  from  the  employ  of  the 
Great  Western  Railroad.  His  appearance  was  decidedly 
"Frenchy"  but  he  claimed  to  be  an  Englishman  and  wore  medals 
of  honor  upon  his  breast  which  had  been  given  him  for  distin 
guished  services  in  the  Crimea.  But  he  lost  his  influence  to  an 
extent  with  the  regiment  by  "airing"  himself —  went  to  church  in 
full  uniform,  saber,  spurs  and  all — and  never  had  the  oppor 
tunity  of  commanding  the  regiment  in  a  fight,  though  we  all  be 
lieved  he  would  have  made  a  good  officer. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1861,  when  Captain  Henry  R.  Mizner, 
U.  S.  A.,  mustered  the  regiment  into  the  service  we  had  as 
senior  Major,  Robert  II.  G.  Minty,  a  very  genial  gentleman  who 
endeared  himself  to  the  men  by  his  unassuming  yet  soldierly 
manners.  He  lived  in  his  tent  in  camp  and  could  call  his  men 
by  name,  and  was  ever  ready  to  impart  any  instructions  or  listen 
to  any  communications  they  might  make.  He  was  from  Detroit 
and  was,  like  the  Lieutenant-Colonel,  a  railroad  man. 


IN    THE    WEST.  25 

Major  Selden  II.  Gorham,  of  the  second  battalion,  was  from 
Marshall,  and  came  to  us  with  a  good  record   from    service  as  a 
lieutenant  with  the  three   months   men  at  Bull    Run.     He   was    • 
a  stylish  young  officer,  but  a  little  too  much  reserved  in  manners 
ever  to  become  popular  among  volunteers. 

Major  Chas.  P.  Babcock,  of  the  third  battalion,  was  a  very 
stylish  old  officer.  His  slick  iron  gray  chin  whiskers  and  his 
prancing  iron  gray  stallion  were  in  exact  harmony.  His  men 
would  do  anything  for  the  kind  hearted  old  major,  but  the  war 
happened  about  twenty-five  years  too  late  for  him. 

Surgeon  Chas.  S.  Henderson  was  from  Grand  Rapids  and  gave 
his  entire  time  and  acknowledged  skill  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  his  duty  and  in  this  he  was  ably  assisted  by  assistant  Surgeon 
Wm.  Brownell,  of  Utica. 

Peter  S.  Schuyler,  Adjutant,  possessed  natural  qualifications 
for  the  arduous  duties  which  devolved  upon  his  position  while  the 
troops  were  being  organized,  and  afterwards  Alphonso  E. 
Gordon,  Peter  A.Weber  and  George  Lee  were  the  battalion 
adjutants.  Gordon  was  an  editor,  Weber  a  popular  young  busi 
ness  man  of  bright  promise  and  Lee  was  a  bank  book-keeper. 
They  were  all  from  Grand  Rapids. 

Frank  E.  Walbridge,  of  Kalamazoo,  was  regimental  quarter 
master.  His  battalion  quartermasters  were  James  P.  Scott,  of 
Grand  Haven,  Seymour  Brownell,  of  Utica,  and  John  A.  Brooks, 
of  Newaygo.  The  four  positions  were  soon  consolidated  at  Cor 
inth  in  one,  when  James  P.  Scott  alone  remained.  Walbridge 
having  been  promoted,  and  Brownell  transferred  to  the  Potomac 
;and  promoted. 

Chaplain  Francis  Drew,  of  the    M.    E.    church    of    Grand 


26 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 


Rapids,  held  divine  service  on  Sundays,  and  visited  the  sick  in 
hospitals.  Sylvester's  regimental  band  gave  us  selections  at  regi 
mental  parade  or  an  occasional  evening  serenade.  Prompt  responses 
were  made  to  bugle  calls  and  the  discipline  of  camp  life  was 
accepted  with  becoming  grace  and  an  evidence  of  determination 
to  equal  if  possible  the  best  drilled  and  disciplined  troops. 


CHAPTER  III. 

OFF    FOR    ST .   LOUIS AN  OVATION    ALL   ALON&  THE  LINE HOUSES 

FOLLOW   IN    SECTIONS    OF    TRAINS INCIDENTS     BY     THE     WAY 

— CAMP    BENTON. 

It  seemed  a  long  time  to  wait — those  days  and  weeks  when 
we  were  drilling,  receiving  clothing  and  horses — horses  that  we 
could  not  ride,  for  as  yet  we  had  no  saddles  nor  arms;  and  every 
morning  as  we  arose  to  a  bath  at  the  trough  in  the  open  air,  with 
a  sharp  frost  nipping  our  fingers  and  no  fires  in  all  the  camp  to 
warm  by,  we  longed  for  a  more  sunny  clime,  with  a  chance  to 
show  the  country  that  Michigan  took  some  interest  in  the  war. 

The  order  came,  and  on  the  14th  of  November,  1861,  we 
marched  to  the  depot  of  the  Detroit  &  Milwaukee  road,  and 
bidding  adieu  to  friends  gathered  there,  we  left  for  Detroit.  At 
all  stations  along  the  road  there  was  a  general  uproar  of  cheers, 
greetings  and  farewells. 

Arriving  at  Detroit  in  the  evening,  we  marched  in  good 
order  to  a  sumptuous  feast  spread  by  the  ladies  of  that  city  in 
the  freight  depot  of  the  Detroit  &  Milwaukee  Railroad,  and  it 
was  twelve  o'clock  at  night  before  we  were  again  under  way 
over  the  Michigan  Central,  filling  the  air  with  cheers  as  we  left, 
for  the  good  ladies  of  Detroit,  who  had  feasted  us  so  well. 


HUNDRED    BATTLKS 

A  train  of  soldiers  was  no  uncommon  sight  in  those  days, 
yet  the  enthusiasm  was  unabated,  and  throngs  of  people  gathered 
at  the  stations,  night  or  day,  to  give  us  God  speed. 

Arriving  at  Decatur,  Michigan,  in  the  morning,  we  were  or 
dered  from  the  cars  for  a  rest  and  inspection.  The  Decatur  can 
non  was  ordered  out  and  we  were  welcomed  by  a  salute,  in  which 
a  squad  of  young  ladies  joined,  and  their  f  usilade  of  kisses  went 
square  to  the  target  and  never  missed  a  man. 

At  Niles  we  took  breakfast,  which  had  been  prepared  by  the 
ladies,  who  exerted  themselves  successfully  in  making  our  short 
stay  very  pleasant.  At  Michigan  City  we  were  well  received  by 
the  Hoosiers  and  their  ladies,  and  again  at  Joliet,  and  then  we 
plunged  out  upon  the  broad  moon-lit  prairie,  whose  swelling 
bosom  seemed  so  like  the  rolling  sea,  as  we  rushed  down  one 
grade  and  up  the  next,  speeding  on  with  never  a  halt,  passing 
station,  town  or  burning  grass,  and  on  into  the  rock-bound  city 
of  Alton  on  the  Mississippi,  where  we  embarked  upon  those  float 
ing  palaces,  "Meteor"  and  "Daniel  Tatrim,"  for  St.  Louis,  where 
after  a  short,  pleasant  ride,  we  arrived  in  due  time,  and  forming 
into  line  marched  four  miles  to  "Benton  Barracks,"  the  work 
of  General  Fremont  at  the  fair  grounds. 

We  numbered  1,240  in  officers  and  men  at  that  time,  and  the 
task  of  transporting  that  number  was  no  difficult  one,  yet  much 
less  so  than  the  moving  of  the  same  number  of  horses.  These 
were  divided  into  three  sections  of  trains,  each  train  having  thir 
ty-five  to  forty  cars. 

To  load  and  unload  these  horses,  feed  and  water  them  at 
least  once  every  twenty-four  hours  on  all  that  long  trip  from 
Grand  Rapids  to  Detroit,  thence  to  Michigan  City,  Joliet,  Alton 


IN    THE    WEST. 


and  St.  Louis  was  no  small  task,  as  the  writer  can  testify  from 
personal  experience.  Occasionally  a  horse  would  get  down  and 
the  kicking,  squealing  and  tramping  could  be  heard  above  the 
roar  of  the  heavy  train.  Only  one  horse  was  killed  of  all  the 
number,  and  stopping  the  train  in  the  middle  of  a  broad  prairie, 
he  was  hauled  out.  After  three  days  from  Grand  Rapids  the 
battalion  of  horses  was  led  into  camp  at  St.  Louis  in  good  con 
dition.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  remark  here  that  many 
expressed  a  wonder  that  saddles  were  not  furnished  at  Grand 
Rapids  and  the  command  be  permitted  to  march  to  St.  Louis, 
For  the  discipline  of  that  march,  if  properly  conducted,  would 
have  been  worth  quite  as  much  as  the  benefit  received  in  camp 
at  Benton  Barracks  (the  fair  grounds)  during  the  same  period. 
But  our  camp  was  laid  out  on  a  large  open  field,  level  and  thor 
oughly  drained,  though  soft  in  wet  weather,  and  we  were  soon 
in  active  training  for  the  field.  The  grounds  were  one  mile 
long  by  a  quarter  wide,  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  wooden 
barracks,  with  cooking  and  dining  sheds  in  the  rear  and  stables 
farther  back. 

In  the  center  of  the  grounds  near  one  end  were  General  Sher 
man's  headquarters,  and  none  will  ever  forget  the  long-haired, 
strong-lunged  Indian,  who  woke  us  to  an  early  reveille  with  his 
bugle  that  gave  forth  a  blast  like  a  steam  fog-horn,  and  kept  it 
up  throughout  the  day  —  roll-call,  stable  call,  hospital  call,  drill, 
fatigue,  sun-set  ("Retreat"),  and  taps,  when  the  last  light  was 
supposed  to  be  out,  and  silence  reigned  supreme. 

Who  will  forget  the  refrain  from  all  the  company  bugles 
and  drums  as  they  took  up  the  calls  and  rattled  and  blowed  to 
the  last  long  drawn  note? 


30  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

Then  the  busy  scene  upon  that  level  plain  as  company^after 
company  and  regiment  after  regiment  marched  and  rode  out  to 
drill.  Helter-skelter,  hither  and  yon,  like  a  hundred  sham  bat 
tles,  deploying,  rallying,  charging,  flanking,  wheeling  and  skir 
mishing — a  grand  school  of  instruction,  and  we  were  apt  scholars 
in  those  days,  for  our  ambition  was  to  excel,  and  an  awkward 
man  or  horse  was  soon  broken  in,  and  constant  practice  soon 
brought  the  regiment  to  a  degree  of  perfection  not  excelled  by 
even  regulars. 

Captain  Gordon  Granger,  of  the  regular  army,  having  been 
appointed  Colonel  of  our  regiment,  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time 
every  day  to  drilling  the  officers,  and  as  there  was  a  good  sized 
company  of  them,  more  or  less  amusement  was  caused  by  the 
awkwardness  of  some  who  were  not  as  well  drilled  as  most  of 
their  men.  To  see  a  private  soldier  roll  off  his  horse  and  dangle 
his  heels  in  the  air  for  a  second  was  too  common  to  be  funny,  but 
to  see  an  officer  in  that  pleasant  (?)  predicament  was  too  much 
for  the  soldiers  who  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  but  they  were 
the  only  ones  who  dared  to  laugh;  a  frown  from  "Old  Granger," 
as  he  was  sometimes  called,  would  kill  further  than  an  old  flint 
lock. 

But  it  was  not  many  weeks  before  we  were  considered  sol 
dierly  enough  to  participate  in  a  grand  review,  and  we  acquitted 
ourselves  so  creditably  as  to  draw  special  attention  from  the  gen 
erals  present.  From  that  time  on  we  were  no  more  considered  re 
cruits,  raw  troops,  etc.,  but  were  given  to  understand  that  we 
were  booked  for  the  field. 

And  with  Colt's  revolving  rifles  and  pistols,  besides  sabers, 
each  man  was  a  whole  arsenal  in  himself,  and  felt  superior  to  equal 


IN    THE    WEST. 


31 


numbers  of  the  best  troops  with  single-barreled  arms  in  the  coun 
try.  This  was  no  idle  boast,  as  we  afterwards  proved  on  many 
a  hard  contested  field. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE     FINISHING     TOUCHES FAREWELL    TO      BENTON     BARRACKS — 

LAMBS     TO      THE      SLAUGHTER COMMERCE,      MISSOURI JEFF. 

THOMPSON'S  LIGHT  ARTILLERY — A  NIGHT  IN  THE  MUD — xi;\\ 


Colonel  Granger,  though  a  gruff  appearing  man,  had  succeed 
ed  in  winning  the  respect  of  his  regiment  by  his  strict  attention 
to  all  the  details  of  making  a  well  disciplined  body  of  soldiers 
out  of  a  mass  of  awkward  men  from  every  walk  in  life,  and 
the  last  finishing  touches  had  been  added,  while  arms,  ammu 
nition  and  accoutrements  were  being  drawn  and  distributed.  And 
now  Colonel  Granger  calls  his  brother  officers  of  the  regular  army 
to  look  at  them  as  they  move  about  the  grounds. 

"Pope,  look  here!" 

"Well,  what  of  it?" 

"What of  it!  you  d d  fool?  You  never  saw  a  better  look 
ing  regiment  nor  a  better  drilled  regiment  in  your  life!" 

More  adjectives  on  both  sides,  then  they  take  a  drink  and  talk 
of  the  proposed  forward  move. 

On  the  21st  of  Feburary,  1S62,  army  wagons  were  packed 
with  camp  supplies,  and  we  moved  forward,  without  regrets,  eveu 


IN    THE    WEST.  33 

for  the  comfortable  quarters  we  had  so  much  enjoyed  all  winter; 
and  we  turned  our  backs  on  them  forever,  as  it  proved,  going, 
we  knew  not  where,  and  cared  little,  though  it  might  be  like 
lambs  to  the  slaughter.  And  a  big,  burly,  healthy-looking  lot 
of  lambs  we  were,  too; 

With  little  delay,  we  were  all  packed  on  board  the  steamer 
Empress,  the  largest  and  finest  of  the  river  fleet,  and  the  next 
day,  as  the  fog  lifted,  we  steamed  down  the  Mississippi  to  Com 
merce,  Missouri,  where  we  landed  and  set  out  to  scour  the  Avoods 
towards  New  Madrid,  where  General  Pope's  army  was  to  join  us. 

It  was  reported  that  Jeff  Thompson  had  been  having 
his  own  way  through  that  part  of  the  country,  and  without 
knowing  anything  of  his  force,  we  naturally  moved  with  cau 
tion  through  the  woods,  keeping  an  eye  out  for  ambuscades  or 
any  surprise  that  might  be  intended  for  us.  We  had  no  definite 
idea  whether  Jeff  Thompson  was  the  captain  of  a  guerrilla  band 
of  swamp  rangers,  or  the  regular  commanding  general  of  a  large 
force  of  cavalry,  and  this  uncertainty  may  have  caused  some 
nervous  sensations  to  dance  up  and  down  our  spinal  columns, 
but  it  did  not  appear  on  the  surface,  for  we  moved  cheerfully 
along,  with  our  advance  guard  out  a  few  rods  ahead,  and  occa 
sional  flankers  where  the  ground  would  permit. 

The  regiment  divided,  each  battalion  going  different  routes. 
A  heavy  rain  set  in  and  at  dark  the  different  battalions  had  not 
reached  the  point  designated  for  our  camp  for  the  night  at  Ben- 
ton.  Who  will  ever  forget  the  impenetrable  darkness  of  that 
night,  and  the  terrible  sloughs  through  which  we  wallowed  in 
our  efforts  to  follow  our  guide?  Occasionally  a  halt  was  sound 
ed  and  the  broken  ranks  were  given  an  opportunity  to  stagger 
out  upon  terra  firma,  if  they  could  find  it. 


34 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 


Only  two  battalions  reached  the  camp — late,  wet,  tired,  sore 
and  hungry.  The  other  battalion  roosted  out  in  the  swamps, 
and  thought  themselves  lucky  if  they  could  find  a  log  to  perch 
upon,  while  the  poor  animals  stood  patiently  in  the  mud  and 
water  to  their  knees,  "waiting  for  the  light."  It  came  at  last, 
and  the  "lost"  rode  into  camp  with  the  first  gleam  of  day. 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  men  in  such  a  position  seize  upon  any 
thing  in  the  shape  of  food,  and  that  among  the  animals  brought 
in,  dressed  and  cut  up,  was  an  imported  male  Cashmere  goat, 
worth  $500  for  breeding  purposes? 


NEW    MADRID. 

Only  a  short  rest  was  allowed,  and  again  we  set  out  towards 
New  Madrid,  but  divided  as  before,  looking  for  Jeff. 


IX    THE    WEST.  35 

When  our  advance  reached  Sikeston,  we  were  confronted  by 
a  force  of  cavalry  and  three  pieces  of  rifled  artillery  of  small 
calibre  planted  on  a  narrow  causeway. 

The  Seventh  Indiana  cavalry  charged  them,  capturing  the 
artillery  and  completely  routing  them,  nor  did  the  enemy  offer 
further  resistance  until  we  reached  New  Madrid,  March  3d.  A 
rebel  captain,  lieutenant  and  several  privates  were  captured  in 
this  charge,  from  whom  it  was  learned  their  force  was  about 
10,000  infantry,  900  cavalry  and  four  batteries  of  field  artillery. 

The  overflow  of  the  Mississippi  river  bottoms  was  a  serious 
impediment  to  Gen.  Pope's  rapid  advance;  in  fact,  it  was  imposs 
ible  to  bring  up  heavy  guns  until  the  water  had  subsided,  and  all 
the  while  the  enemy's  gunboats,  some  six  or  seven  in  number, 
were  able  to  over-look  the  country  from  the  decks  of  their  iron 
clads  in  front  of  New  Madrid,  and  while  General  Pope  felt  cer 
tain  he  could  have  captured  the  place  by  assault,  he  felt  sure  of 
being  driven  out  by  the  gunboats  with  a  needless  loss  of  life. 
Therefore  the  entire  army  was  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  open 
plain  awaiting  developments.  Fortunately  their  firing  was 
"wild,"  and  our  position  was  naturally  protected  by  a  slight  de 
pression  of  the  ground;  we  must  have  looked  very  unconcerned 
as  we  stood  there  for  more  than  an  hour  without  returning  a 
shot.  Then  we  began  to  feel  their  position.  Entering  a  narrow 
lane  on  the  left,  two  battalions  of  cavalry  marched  to  within 
200  yards  of  their  earthworks  and  plainly  saw  their  guns  and 
iron-clad s  upon  the  river.  Suddenly  they  gave  us  a  salute  with 
short  range  fuse  shell  and  the  unearthly  screech  of  shell  and 
whirr  of  broken  iron  after  the  explosion  were  enough  to  make 
the  stoutest  hearts  quail.  Perhaps  ours  did,  but  we  did  not  tarry 


HUNDRED    HATTLES 


long  in  that  immediate  neighborhood,  neither  did  we  run.  We 
had  drawn  their  fire  on  the  left  and  knew  their  position;  we  there 
fore  deliberately  withdrew.  Meanwhile  one  battalion  of  our 
regiment  (the  first)  had  made  like  demonstrations  on  the  right 
and  had  a  brush  with  the  enemy,  capturing  a  few  pickets  and 
driving  in  the  rest.  This  was  known  as  the  "fight  at  Point 
Pleasant,"  Missouri. 

Here  the  writer  with  a  detail  of  twenty  men  made  his  first 
scout  immediately  after  our  locating  the  main  body  of  the  enemy 
in  the  fort  on  the  Mississippi  river,  with  an  impassable  barrier  on 
our  left,  Wilson's  Bayou—  a  wide  swamp  or  bayou,  navigable  for 
small  steamers;  and  our  forces  extending  around  to  the  river  on 
the  right.  It  became  necessary  to  know  if  there  were  any  strag 
gling  troops  in  our  rear  and  for  this  purpose  a  squad  of  men  ex 
amined  every  road,  cross  road,  lane,  bit  of  woods,  farm  and 
buildings  for  a  distance  of  ten  miles  to  the  rear,  and  on  this  ex 
pedition  the  natural  foraging  proclivities  of  a  portion  of  the  reg 
iment  were  soon  developed  and  were  the  disturbing  element  that 
became  notorious  during  the  war,  yet  this  same  company,  Phil 
Sheridan  said,  was  one  of  the  best  squadrons  of  cavalry  he  ever 
had  anything  to  do  with. 


IN    THE    WEST.  3 7 

The  work  of  drawing  closer  the  lines  about  New  Madrid 
moved  steadily  onward  while  the  bombardment  of  Island  No.  10, 
twelve  miles  away,  by  our  gunboats  could  be  plainly  heard,  and 
on  dark  nights  the  course  of  the  fuse  shells  could  be  traced,  as 
the  siege  mortars  sent  their  ponderous  shells  arching  through  the 
sky  to  their  work  of  destruction. 

Here  Gordon  Granger,  now  a  brigadier,  gave  us  an  exhib 
ition  of  his  skill  as  an  officer  in  charge  of  siege  works.  The 
perfect  composure  with  which  he  went  along  the  line  of  heavy 
guns,  touching  a  gun  now  and  then  to  raise  or  lower  the  range, 
while  shot  and  shell  from  the  enemy's  forts  plowed  the  ground 
all  about  him,  often  covering  him  with  clouds  of  dirt,  without 
so  much  as  drawing  from  him  an  indication  that  he  saw  or  heard 
anything  but  his  own  work,  drew  from  all  his  men  deep  though 
silent  admiration;  and  all  the  harsh  things  seen  in  him  or  felt  in 
ourselves  were  buried  forever. 

With  an  occasional  sortie  and  repulse,  a  skirmish  on  the  right 
and  another  on  the  left,the  work  of  reducing  the  fort  went  stead 
ily  though  slowly  forward  until  one  evening  it  began  to  be  whis 
pered  about  that  a  general  assault  was  to  be  made  at  daylight. 
By  a  probably  accidental  coincidence,  the  enemy  were  busy  all 
night  in  moving  their  forces  across  the  river,  and  in  the  morning 
when  our  guns  suddenly  opened  on  one  part,  our  infantry  made 
a  dash,  scaling  the  works  and  rushing  in,  only  to  find  the  rear 
guard  of  a  demoralized  army,  with  all  the  indications  of  a  hur 
ried  departure — half  cooked  breakfasts,  unpacked  knapsacks, 
burdensome  trinkets,  Texas  "cheese-knives,"  useless  arms,  accou 
trements,  etc.  They  had  been  busy  crossing  the  river,  were  fol 
lowed  and  captured. 


38  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

Thus  was  General  Pope's  letter  to  General  Halleck  verified, 
and  more:  He  said  he  would  have  Island  No.  10  in  a  week — he 
not  only  had  Island  No.  10,  but  New  Madrid  as  well,  and  with 
it  three  generals,  six  thousand  prisoners,  a  large  amount  of  mu 
nitions  of  war,  100  pieces  of  siege  and  several  battalions  of  field 
artillery,  small  arms,  tents,  wagons,  horses,  etc. 

For  this  brilliant  victory,  General  Pope  received  the  follow 
ing  telegram  from  his  superior  at  St.  Louis: 
MAJOR-GENERAL  POPE: 

I  congratulate  you  and  your  command  on  your  splendid 
achievement.  It  exceeds  in  boldness  and  brilliancy  all  other 
operations  of  the  war.  It  will  be  memorable  in  military 
history,  and  will  be  admired  by  future  generations.  You 

deserve  well  of  your  country. 

H.  W.  HALLECK, 

Major-General. 


CHAPTER  V. 

AFLOAT    ON      THE    MISSISSIPPI,    OHIO     AND     TENNESSEE OFF     FOB 

MEMPHIS — COUNTER-MARCH         TO         PITTSBURG       LANDING A 

MUDDY  BUSINESS MONTEREY,   FARMINGTON IN  FRONT  OF 

CORINTH. 

Our  Missouri  Campaign  was  ended,  and  we  made  all  haste 
to  join  Grant  and  Buell  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  but  before  we 
had  embarked  news  came  that  the  battle  of  Shiloh  had  been 
fought  and  our  troops  were  in  possession  of  the  grounds. 

While  embarking  at  New  Madrid,  a  gunboat  was  seen  com 
ing  slowly  round  the  bend  of  the  river  from  Island  No.  10.  That 
she  was  a  rebel  gunboat,  we  had  every  reason  to  believe,  and  in 
our  break-camp  condition  we  were  not  prepared  for  that  kind  of 
a  visitor.  As  she  came  on,  a  shot  was  sent  whizzing  across  her 
bows,  but  she  did  not  deign  to  reply  and  another  was  sent  crash 
ing  into  her  sides  at  low  water  mark.  Still  no  reply,  and  we 
began  to  surmise  that  she  was  abandoned.  Sending  out  a  small 
boat,  we  discovered  this  to  be  true,  and  as  she  drifted  on  to  a  bar 
and  sunk,  we  went  on  with  our  work,  feeling  assured  now  that 
the  river  was  ours  as  far  down  as  Cairo  at  least. 


40  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

We  had  captured  quite  a  number  of  transports  with  New 
Madrid  and  Island  No.  10,  and  now  they  became  quite  useful  in 
moving  our  troops.  Our  regiment  alone  filled  two  or  more  (for 
we  were  not  sure  of  high  water)  and  we  were  soon  past  Cairo 
and  made  no  halt  until  we  were  not  many  miles  from  Memphis. 
Why  we  did  not  land  near  there  and  march  across  to  Pittsburg 
Landing  was  known  only  to  the  generals  in  command.  We  did 
not  even  tie  up  where  it  was  possible  to  land.  High  water  had 
covered  the  banks  and  we  tied  to  trees  that  stood  in  water  ten 
to  twenty  feet  deep.  To  those  whose  boats  brought  up  the  rear, 
and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a  long  curved  line  of  jack -lights, 
lanterns  and  fire-holes  from  the  main  decks,  the  picture  will 
probably  remain  a  bright  scene  against  a  very  dark  back  ground 
(a  cypress  swamp)  reminding  them  of  that  far  off  long  ago  until 
the  last  solemn  "Roll  Call." 

We  curled  up  in  our  blankets  feeling  pretty  safe.  We  knew 
we  could  run  away  from  gunboats,  bushwhackers  could  not  get 
within  two  miles  of  us  by  land,  and  as  for  other  transports  mo 
lesting  us,  we  felt  that  we  could  whip  nearly  "all  creation"  com 
ing  in  that  shape. 

With  the  earliest  light  we  set  out  on  our  return  up  the 
Mississippi  to  Cairo,  up  the  Ohio  to  the  Tennessee,  and  after 
eleven  days  reached  Pittsburg  Landing  and  passing  a  little 
above,  disembarked  at  Hamburg  Landing,  April  21st,  1862, 
where  for  the  first  time  the  actual  business  of  a  cavalry  soldier 
with  us  began. 

We  never  knew  when  we  lay  down  at  night,  usually  without 
tents,  whether  we  were  to  be  allowed  the  luxury  of  an  all  night's 
sleep,  (even  though  our  blankets  and  the  hard  ground  was  all 


IN    THE    WEST.  41 

there  was  beneath  us,  and  the  changing  sky  above  us),  or  were 
to  be  called  at  midnight  or  the  earliest  streak  of  day.  We  had 
enlisted  for  the  war  and  were  always  cheerful  under  the  most 
severe  hardships.  To  be  in  the  saddle  all  night  was  too  common 
for  even  novelty;  and  to  be  engaged  driving  in  scouting  or  re- 
conn  entering  parties  was  an  every  day  occurrence,  while  a  dash 
upon  the  enemy,  testing  the  strength  of  their  position,  driving  in 
pickets,  destroying  railroad  tracks  and  bridges,losing  a  few,  cap 
turing  a  few,  watching,  advancing  and  drawing  the  enemy's  fire 
while  the  infantry  and  artillery  maneuvered  for  position — all 
this  and  more,  became  our  daily  schooling  in  the  business  of  a 
soldier,  and  about  all  the  credit  we  ever  got,  in  those  days, 
was  ridicule  from  the  infantry  because  we  were  not  numerically 
strong  enough  to  whip  the  whole  rebel  army  without  the  aid 
of  infantry  or  artillery.  "Here,  get  back  in  the  rear  and  give  a 
man  a  chance/'  was  the  usual  salutation  as  we,  having  accom 
plished  our  object,  dropped  back  to  await  further  developments. 
One  of  the  first  encounters  we  had,  meeting  with  any  consider 
able  force,  was  about  the  first  of  May,  1862.  Our  regiment  went 
out  with  the  second  Iowa,  taking  the  road  that  led  through  a  small 
burg  called  Monterey,  on  the  road  to  Corinth.  It  had  been  rain 
ing  and  the  roads  were  soft,  but  the  sun  came  out  warm  and  clear 
as  we  started,  early  in  the  morning,  to  push  the  enemy  as  far  as 
possible  and  return.  We  surprised  their  pickets,  and  rushed  on 
towards  their  camp.  Found  them  moving  and  their  camp-fires 
and  deserted  camp  equipage,  cast  off  guns,  bayonets,  belts  and 
cartridge  boxes  showed  they  were  in  a  hurry  to  get  somewhere, 
we  knew  not  where,  but  soon  found  out.  A  running  fight  of 
two  or  three  miles  took  us  through  Monterey  and  half  a  mile 


42  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

beyond,  where  our  advance,  under  Captain  Alger,  rushed  wildly 
into  an  artillery  camp  commanding  a  little  hill, well  protected  by 
infantry. 

Opening  a  sharp  fire  on  us,  the  companies  in  front  turned 
and  got  out  of  the  way,  while  the  companies  in  the  rear  moved 
under  cover  of  a  ravine,  until  they  were  again  in  the  rear  and 
deliberately  marched  back  to  Monterey,  where  the  regiment 
re-formed  in  good  order  and  returned  to  camp. 

That  scout  came  the  nearest  to  being  a  panic  in  its  termina 
tion  of  any  movement  we  ever  made,  and  as  such,  was  a  valuable 
lesson  to  us  in  teaching  self  control  and  guarding  against  a 
rout. 

Very  soon  after  this,  about  the  5th  of  May,  1862,  our  camp 
was  established  at,  or  near  Farmington,  beyond  which  our  out 
posts,  the  cavalry  vidette  and  pickets  of  the  army,  were  stationed. 
Near  our  regiment  was  the  well-known  "Big  Tree  Signal 
Station,"  from  which  most  of  the  enemy's  works  at  Corinth 
could  be  inspected. 

Not  far  in  our  advance,  a  half  mile  perhaps,  was  the  open  field 
upon  which  our  heavy  siege  guns  were  planted,  and  across  whose 
uneven  surface,  furrowed  here  and  there  by  rains,  some  of  the 
fiercest  struggles  of  the  war  were  fought.  From  this  camp  we 
were  sent  on  those  daily  reconnaissances. 

If  Beauregard  was  discovered  throwing  up  earthworks  or 
forts  this  regiment  was  often  selected  to  "feel  of  him,"  General 
Pope  knowing  that  no  retreat  would  be  sounded  until  likely  to 
be  crushed  by  overpowering  numbers.  Sometimes  the  artillery 
would  be  sent  up  and  a  sharp  artillery  duel  followed  while 
we  stood  calmly  by  ready  to  support  if  needed.  Occasionally 


IN    THE    WEST. 


43 


tin-  enemy  felt  of  our  works,  when  a  skirmish  was  sure  to  follow, 
that,  occurring  anywhere  else,  would  have  been  called  a  battle. 
The  most  important  of  these  was  fought  on  the  9th  day  of  May 
and  has  been  known  as  the  Battle  of  Farmington.  We  give 
General  Pope's  report  of  that  engagement: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

Near  Farmington,  May  9,  1862. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK  : 

The  enemy  is  felling  timber  on  my  left  and  rear,  about 
where  a  road  conducts  across  Seven-mile  Creek,  to  the  high 
lands  toward  the  railroad.  I  have  a  strong  cavalry  picket,  a 
regiment  of  infantry,  and  a  section  of  artillery  on  the  road, 

about  three  miles  from  my  left. 

JNO.  POPE, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

May  9,  1862. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  BUELL: 

Enemy  is  forming  a  pretty  strong  line  of  battle  at  Farm 
ington,  having1  driven  in  our  pickets.  Please  march  Nelson's 
division  in  this  direction  immediately,  and  be  ready. 

JNO.  POPE, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

Without  entering  into  details  it  appears  from  correspond 
ence  between  Generals  Halleck  and  Pope,  that  the  Army  of  the 
Mississippi  (Pope's  corps)  was  looked  upon  as  holding  the  key  to 
our  advance  when  the  time  came;  and  General  Halleck  was 
taking  all  necessary  precautions  to  bring  the  three  divisions  of 
his  army  into  touching  distance,  and  General  Pope  was  expressly 
instructed  not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  until  he  had 


44  HUNDRED     BATTLKS 

notice  that  all  were  ready,  and  therefore  it  was  against  General 
Pope's  wishes  that  so  stubborn  a  resistance  was  made  at  Farm- 
ington. 

To  check  the  enemy  from  a  farther  advance  was  his  only 
thought;  but  our  men  could  not  understand  the  difference 
between  a  maneuvering  retreat  and  that  terrible  word  defeat, 
and,  therefore,  many  a  poor  fellow  lost  his  life,  whom  General 
Pope  would  gladly  have  saved.  And  for  the  same  reason,  doubt 
less,  he  does  not  refer  to  that  engagement  except  as  an  unimport 
ant  skirmish.  Thirty-five  thousand  against  ten  thousand  was 
terrible  odds,  yet  we  were  all  mad  because  we  couid  not  hold  our 
extreme  advanced  ground. 

There  was  a  tendency  at  this  time  among  a  certain  class  at 
Washington  to  belittle  any  of  the   minor  engagements  of  that 
campaign,  and  probably  no   officer  suffered  more  from  this  cause 
than    General    John   Pope.     To   those  who   saw  the  obstacles 
which  nature  threw    in  the  way  of  an  active  campaign  in  that 
locality,  the  energy  with  which  General  Pope  pushed  roads  across 
swamps  that  appeared  impassable,  and  placed  heavy  siege   guns 
where  but  a  few  days   before   light  artillery  could   scarcely   go, 
the  reason  for  this  apparent  over-caution,  this  apparent  slowness 
of  the  "on  to  Corinth  movement,"  was  well  understood.     For  an 
army   as   far   from  their   base  of  supplies   as  ours  was   to  have 
rushed  into  a  trap,  might  have  proved  a  national  calamity,  and  it 
is  a  well  established  rule  among  the  best  military  men   to  guard 
well  their  rear  and  flanks;  hence  the  duty  that  cavalry  performs 
in   an    advance   of    the   magnitude   of     the  north    Mississippi 
campaign,  was   a  very  important  and  exceedingly  arduous   one. 
Night  and  day  the  movement  must  be  continuous.  If  the  enemy 


IN    THE    WEST.  45 

make  a  demonstration  upon  the  left,  neither  swamp  nor  wood 
must  form  an  impassable  barrier.  If  they  attack  the  right,  the 
cavalry  must  be  there  also,  to  meet,  fight  and  hold  them  until 
the.main  force  can  be  brought  into  action. 

This  battle  of  Farmington  was  a  peculiarly  trying  one. 
The  enemy  made  a  demonstration  in  full  force  and  so  sudden 
that  when  the  cavalry  moved  forward  to  meet  them  and  charged 
over  the  roughest  part  of  the  field  they  found  line  after  line  of 
infantry  moving  forward  with  unbroken  tread;  while  their  artil 
lery  rapidly  formed  on  the  flanks  and  poured  a  deadly  enfilading 
fire  of  grape  and  canister  into  our  ranks.  We  will  never  for 
get  our  "twin"  Second  Iowa  cavalry  at  that  moment,  how  they 
charged  and  re-charged  the  third  time  though  every  gully  was 
filled  with  horses  and  men.  It  was  a  second  Balakiava  and 
before  the  enemy  could  shake  them  off  our  infantry  was  there 
and  what  came  so  near  being  a  disastrous  defeat  was  turned  into 
a  stubborn  resistance  and  finally  a  victory  for  our  arms.  Our 
heavy  guns  were  at  one  time  held  by  the  enemy,  but  they  were 
all  re-taken  and  the  rebels  sent  staggering  back  into  Corinth, 
leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  field. 

With  a  dangerous  swamp  in  our  rear  and  only  one  available 
road,  a  retreat,  we  thought,  meant  annihilation.  But  it  was  char 
acteristic  of  that  army,  they  never  knew  when  they  were  whip 
ped;  and  so,  they  fought  on,  inch  by  inch,  until  the  tide  turned. 

That  battle  really  decided  the  fate  of  Corinth,  by  teaching 
Beauregard  what  kind  of  material  he  had  to  contend  against. 
If  Grant  and  Buell  could  hold  their  own  at  Shiloh  without  Pope 
what  could  they  not  do  with  him? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CORINTH THE      MISSISSIPPI      CAMPAIGN— PHILIP     H.     SHERIDAN 

RAID  ON  BOONVILLE— EVACUATION  OF  CORINTH— BLACKLAND. 

W  ho  that  was  encamped  near  Farmington  has  forgotten  the 
following  order  audits  midnight  calls: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

MAY  Oth,  1862. 
lo  DIVISION  COMMANDERS: 

The  discharge  of  a  piece  of  artillery  at  these  headquarters 
will  from  this  time  forth  be  the  signal  for  the  immediate  as- 
'semiring  of  this  entire  command  under  arms  and  at  their  posts. 

By  order  of 

GENERAL  POPE. 
C.  A.  MORGAN,  Aide-de-Camp. 

As  this  order  was  read  to  the  troops  immediately  after  the 
battle  of  Farmington  it  may  well  be  supposed  that  the  signal  was 
obeyed  with  alacrity.  If  the  long  roll  sounded  in  Beauregard's 
camp  it  was  very  likely  to  be  sounded  in  ours  very  soon  after. 
If  our  pickets  were  driven  in  at  any  hour  of  night  or  day,  the 
dull  reverberations  of  that  headquarters  gun  would  be  replied  to 
by  a  yell  throughout  camp  as  if  every  man  slept  with  one  eye 
and  one  ear  wide  open. 


IX    THE    WEST.  4^ 

On  the  loth  of  May  a  negro  that  had  been  captured  by  the 
rebels  from  an  Ohio  regiment  escaped  from  Corinth  and  reported 
an  unusual  stir  within  the  rebel  camp,  and  talk  of  a  movement 

south. 

General  Pope  was  anxious  to  move  forward  upon  Corinth 
but  he  could  not  until  General  Bucll  had  cleared  a  way  and 
made  roads  to  move  forward  simultaneously.  . 

Day  and  night  our  cavalry,  or  some  portion  of  it,  was  at  the 
front  pressing  the  enemy's  outposts,  establishing  and  holding 
positions,  scouting  or  doing  picket  and  vidette  work. 

The  following  is  one  of  many  scouts  made  at  the  time: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

Farmington,    May    22d,   18G2. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK: 

The  cavalry  force  I  sent  to  Yellow  Creek  has  returned.  It 
went  as  far  as  the  Tennessee  river. 

*  *  *         There  was  no  enemy. 

The  country  was  almost  impassable.  The  command  then 
went  to  luka  and  returned  along  the  railroad  as  far  as  Glendale. 
At  Barnesville  a  few  mounted  pickets  were  seen  and  pursued  for 
several  miles  in  the  direction  of  Jacinto,  where  there  is  a  regi 
ment  of  cavalry  under  McNeil,  formerly  of  the  "Rifles." 

JNO.  POPE, 
Major-General  Commanding. 

Colonel  Gordon  Granger's  commission  as  Brigadier-General 
dated  back  to  March  26th,  1862,  and  from  that  time  on  the  regi 
ment  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gorham.  General 
Granger  and  Governor  Blair  felt  that  the  command  of  this  regi 
ment  should  be  in  the  hands  of  a  thorough  West  Point  soldier 
with  no  uncertain  record,  and  looking  around  for  such  a  man, 


48  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

General  Granger  remembered  Captain  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  of 
General  Halleck's  staff,  and  as  Governor  Blair  happened  to  be 
at  Farmington  he  recommended  Captain  Sheridan  for  the  position 
and  the  following  order  was  immediately  issued: 

MILITARY   DEPARTMENT    OF    MICHIGAN, 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

May  25th,  1862. 

Captain  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  U.  S.  A.,  is  hereby  appointed 
Colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment  Michigan  Cavalry,  to  rank 
from  this  date.  Captain  Sheridan  will  immediately  assume 
command  of  the  regiment. 

By  order  of   the  Commander  in-Chief. 

JNO.  ROBERTSON, 

Adjutant-General. 

This  order  was 'made  out  at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  de 
livered  to  Captain  Sheridan  by  Captain  Alger,  and  Quartermas 
ter  Frank  Walbridge,  on  the  26th,  and  next  day — May  27th, 
Colonel  Sheridan  walked  into  camp  and  was  introduced  to  the 
officers.  In  his  quiet,  unostentatious  way  he  soon  won  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  entire  command. 

By  the  following  order  it  will  be  seen  that  our  new  colonel 
got  himself  immediately  into  business: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

Farmington,  May  27th,  1862. 
GENERAL  GORDON  GRANGER: 

You  will  SCMH!  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  to  proceed  by  some  se 
cluded  route,  to  a  point  on  the  Mobile  &  Ohio  railroad,  at 
least  forty  miles  south  of  Corinth,  with  instructions  to  destroy 
the  railroad  bridges,  trestle  works,  telegraph  wires,  etc.,  wher 
ever  it  is  practicable,  and  to  render  the  railroad  useless  as  far  as 
possible. 

In  your  orders  to  the  officer  commanding  the  brigade,    you 


MA.T.-GEN.  GORDON  GRANGER,  U.  S.  V., 

COLONEL  SECOND  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY. 


IN    THE    WEST.  49 

will  give  him  the  necessary  instructions  as  to  his  movements, 
being  careful  that  he  is  to  return  by  a  different  route  from  that 
pursued  in  his  forward  movement. 

Respectfully, 

JNO.  POPE, 
Major-General    Commanding. 

On  the  following  day  he  writes  to  General  Halleck,  that  one 
regiment  returned  from  luka,  thus  leaving  but  two  regiments, 
the  Second  Michigan  and  the  Second  Iowa  Cavalry,  to  make  the 
ha/ardous  expedition  into  the  enemy's  country;  to  strike  the  ad 
vance  of  a  retreating  army  of  35,000  men. 

Who  can  ever  forget  the  thick  darkness  of  that  moonless, 
starless  night  when  our  command  cut  loose  from  all  encumber 
ing  baggage  and  set  out  by  a  circuitous  route,  avoiding  towns 
and  camps  of  the  enemy,  upon  a  trip  that  was  to  thoroughly  test 
the  endurance  of  horses  and  men? 

Not  a  sound  above  a  whisper,  or  the  steady  tramp  of 
hoofs,  the  jingle  of  spur  and  saber,  to  keep  heavy  eyelids  from 
closing,  as  hour  after  hour,  by  two  and  two  we  went  wearily 
along,  not  knowing  what  moment  an  ambush  might  frustrate  all 
our  plans,  of  which  we  subalterns  and  men  could  only  guess.  Of 
such  a  thing  as  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  we  had  not  dreamed, 
or  doubtless  when  we  reached  Booneville  on  the  morning  of  the 
29th  we  should  have  felt  more  nervous. 

The  following  shows  what  we  really  had  to  encounter: 

HEADQUARTERS,  CORINTH, 

May  30th,  8:40  A.  M. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK: 

My  advance,  the  thirty-ninth  Ohio  and  forty-second  Illinois, 
entered  town  and  planted  the  United  States  flag   on   the    Court 


50  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

house  at  6:40  this  morning.  They  were  the  first  troops  in  the 
place.  I  am  throwing  forward  my  cavalry  and  artillery  in 
pursuit.  The  enemy  retired  by  the  Mobile  road  yesterday. 

JNO.  POPE, 

Major- General. 

Therefore  when  our  little  handful  of  men  attacked  the  forces 
at  Booneville  and  held  the  place  for  two  hours,  while  the  trains, 
depot  and  munitions  of  war  were  being  destroyed,  the  greater 
part  of  Bcauregard's  army  was  within  a  mile  or  two  of  us,  re 
treating  rapidly  toward  our  raiding  party. 

Colonel  Elliott,  of  the  second  Iowa,  was  in  command  of  this 
expedition,  Colonel  Sheridan  second  in  command — and  as  the 
regiments  were  very  much  reduced  in  numbers  by  sickness  and 
detail  upon  detached  service,  there  were  less  than  1,200  men  in 
the  expedition. 

In  his  report  to  General  Halleck   General  Pope  writes: 

"They  blew  up  one  culvert,  destroyed  track,  switches; 
burned  up  depots,  locomotives  and  twenty  six  cars  loaded  with 
supplies  of  every  kind;  destroyed  ten  thousand  stand  of  small 
arms,  three  pieces  of  artillery,  a  great  quantity  of  clothing  and 
ammunition  and  parolled  two  thousand  prisoners  who  could  not 
keep  up  with  the  cavalry.  The  enemy  had  heard  of  his  move 
ment  and  had  a  train  of  box  and  flat  cars,  carrying  5,000  infan 
try  and  artillery,  running  up  and  down  to  prevent  his  reaching 
the  road.  The  whole  road  was  lined  with  pickets.  For  several 
days  Colonel  Elliott's  command  subsisted  on  meat  alone,  such  as 
they  could  find  in  the  country.  For  daring  and  dash  this  ex 
pedition  has  been  distinguished  in  the  highest  degree." 

This  was   strictly  true,    although  Beauregard  in  his  report 
belittled  the  affair,  and  made  glaringly  false  statements. 


IN    THE    WEST.  51 

Colonel  Elliott,  in  his  report  of  this  expedition,  speaks  in 
very  flattering  terms  of  the  command  under  him,  and  makes 
special  mention  of  the  services  of  Colonel  Sheridan,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Hatch,  second  Iowa,  and  Captain  A.  P.  Campbell,  the  lat 
ter  commanding  a  detachment  of  the  second  Michigan,  that  did 
some  special  service  on  our  right  (the  enemy's  front  center)  in  re 
pulsing  the  enemy  while  the  work  of  destruction  was  going  on, 
and  says,  the  route  taken  covers  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles, 
traveled  between  the  early  morning  of  the  28th  and  the  even 
ing  of  the  31st  of  May,  1862;  and  refers  to  it  as  the  first  expedi 
tion  of  the  kind  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

The  following  is  Colonel  Sheridan's  report  of  the  Boone- 
ville  Raid: 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY, 
Camp  near  Farmington,  Mississippi, 
June   1st,    1862. 

SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following,  as  the 
operations  of  my  regiment  at  the  capture  of  Booneville,  Miss 
issippi,  on  the  morning  of  May  29,  1862: 

My  regiment  was  formed  a  short  distance  in  rear  of  the 
town,  and  on  the  left  of  the  second  regiment  of  Iowa  cavalry, 
when  I  received  directions  from  Colonel  Elliott,  commanding,  to 
take  one  half  of  the  regiment  and  pass  to  the  south  of  the  town, 
and  destroy  a  bridge  on  the  Mobile  &  Ohio  Railroad,  leaving 
the  other  half  of  the  regiment  in  reserve,  to  support  me,  should 
it  be  necessary. 

I  proceeded  rapidly  in  the  direction  indicated  until  I 
reached  the  road,  then  down  the  road  one  and  a  half  miles,  but 
found  no  bridge  or  culvert.  I  then  learned  that  there  was 
no  bridge,  except  the  one  at  Baldwin,  some  nine  miles  fur 
ther  down,  and  that  defended  by  three  regiments  and  one  bat 
tery.  Directions  were  then  given  to  the  companies  to  destroy 


52  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

the  road  l>y  tearing  up  the  track,  bending  the  rails  and  burning 
the  cross-lies.  This  was  done  with  alacrity  at  four  different 
places,  by  both  officers  and  men,  and  continued  until  I  received 
orders  from  the  Colonel  commanding  to  join  him  at  once  at 
Booneville. 

While  these  operations  were  going  on,  a  dash  was  made  by 
a  squadron  of  rebel  cavalry  at  our  rear  and  on  the  right  of  the 
reserve  of  my  regiment,  but  was  handsomely  met  by  the 
reserve  command  of  Captain  Campbell,  who  dismounted  a  por 
tion  of  his  command,  and  when  the  enemy  came  within  range, 
received  them  with  a  volley  which  caused  them  to  break  and 
run  in  all  directions. 

While  passing  to  the  south  of  the  town  and  along  the  rail 
road,  I  captured  about  five  hundred  Confederate  soldiers,  one 
hundred  of  whom  had  good  percussion  muskets,  the  balance  I 
think  had  thrown  their  muskets  away.  They  were  placed  along 
the  road  to  defend  it,  but  made  no  resistance.  I  turned  them 
loose  after  breaking  up  their  guns,  as  we  could  not  be  burdened 
with  them,  in  our  rapid  return  to  this  camp. 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  officers  and  men  of  my 
regiment  without  a  single  exception  behaved  well. 

I  respectfully  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  Colonel  command 
ing,  Captain  Campbell,  commanding  the  reserve,  Captain  Alger, 
who  commanded  the  line  of  skirmishers  in  my  advance,  and 
Adjutant  George  Lee,  who  rendered  important  services  My 
regiment  returned  to  camp  \\ithout  any  casualties. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Colonel  Commanding. 

To     LlKlTKNANT    C.    F.    MARDKN, 

Adjutant  Second  Brigade,  Cavalry  Division, 
Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

General  McPherson  was  at  the  time  in  charge  of  all  the 
railroads  in  General  Halleck's  army.  He  said  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  engine  and  cars  we  cut  off  at  Booneville,  he  could  not 


IN    THE    WEST.  53 

have  supplied  the  army,  as  the  Tennessee  Riveu  was  then  too 
low  for  transports  to  move,  and  there  was  not  rolling  stock 
enough  south  of  the  Ohio  River  to  move  the  immense  supplies 
required. 

On"  our  return  to  Corinth  (or  Farmington)  we  learned  of 
the  evacuation  and  then  realized  that  we  had  been  giving  Beaure- 
gard's  whole  army  a  brush.  Our  loss  was  very  slight,  and  after 
one  night's  rest — such  perfect  rest  as  comes  to  weary  bodies 
after  long  privations,  with  a  feeling  of  perfect  security  for  one 
night's  undisturbed  slumber — we  were  again  in  the  saddle  and 
off  for  the  front.  Passing  over  the  scene  of  our  daily  struggles 
- — here  our  outpost  camping  ground,  there  a  well  worn  path  where 
chain  guard,  vide  ties  or  grand  rounds  had  made  every  tree, 
stump,  log  and  knoll  -as  familiar  as  the  cow  paths  at  our  old 
northern  homesteads;  and  just  across  the  little  opening  a  glisten 
ing  musket  or  a  little  puff  of  smoke  must  surely  greet  us  if  we 
go  farther.  But  these  forbidden  grounds  are  free  once  more 
and  Ave  go  cheerily  along — through  deserted  rebel  camps,  earth 
works,  fallen  trees,  abattis  and  on  through  more  threatening 
forts,  near  which  mysterious  graves  were  made  to  give  up  their 
buried  treasure  of  heavy  siege  guns,  too  heavy  for  rapid  flight. 

If  we  had  passed  days  and  weeks  at  the  front  we  were  for  a 
time  at  least  well  toward  the  rear.  How  long  we  were  to 
remain  so  was  soon  revealed  to  us;  for  on  we  go  through 
Corinth  with  scarce  a  halt,  and  on  toward  the  scene  of  our  late 
raid,  nor  did  we  halt  until  we  were  within  sound  of  guns  again. 

On  the  4th  of  June  we  passed  the  still  smoldering  fires  of 
Booneville,  and  saw  the  ground  covered  with  shot  and  unex- 
ploded  shell  thrown  from  the  cars,  the  explosions  of  which  it  is 


54  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

said  led  the  Confederates  to  believe  they  were  attacked  in  force, 
and  it  really  did  sound  like  a  fierce  engagement  with  artillery 
and  musketry.  Had  they  but  known  we  were  a  mere  handful; 
had  we  but  known  how  near  we  were  to  Beauregard'e  main 
army,  how  different  the  result  might  have  been  for  the  "Twin 
Seconds!" 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  of  June  we  were  again  press 
ing  the  enemy  toward  Blackland.  Encouraged  by  the  constant 
giving  way  of  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  Colonel  Sheridan 'pushed 
on  by  the  main  road  leading  from  Booneville  to  Blackland,  our 
right  flank. 

And  here  a  digression  seems  necessary.  History  reveals  the 
fact  that  General  Pope,  though  sick  in  his  tent  at  Booneville, 
had  suggested  to  his  superior  in  command  that  by  united  action, 
a  vigorous  push  would  undoubtedly  result  in  the  capture  of  a 
large  portion  of  Beauregard's  broken,  disheartened  army. 
Assurances  of  support  upon  the  right  and  left  flanks  were  not 
promptly  given,  and  thus  left  to  himself  Pope  was  in  doubt  how 
far  Ilalleck  desired  the  movement  carried  south.  The  army, 
or  that  portion  of  it  acting  with  Pope,  had  been  everywhere 
successful,  yet  we  were  usually  very  cautious.  General  Pope 
had  written  to  General  Ilalleck  that  he  could  probably  take 
possession  of  all  the  country  as  far  south  as  Baldwin,  but  to 
hold  it  was  another  thing;  it  was  a  long  distance  from  his  base 
of  supplies  and  therefore  he  had  given  instructions  to  his  sub 
ordinate  officers  not  to  push  beyond  certain  points  but  to  re 
turn  to  Booneville  and  go  into  camp.  Therefore  when  Colonel 
Sheridan  went  out  on  the  Blackland  road  it  was  to  find  out  what 
the  strength  of  the  enemy  was  in  that  direction  and  return. 


IN    THE    WEST.  55 

The  colonel  did  not  propose  to  fritter  away  much  time  scouting 
and  skirmishing,  feeling  cautiously  here  and  there  and  give  the 
enemy  a  chance  to  organize  for  a  determined  stand.  Yet  it 
must  be  confessed  he  had  undoubtedly  been  deceived  as  to  the 
condition  of  the  banks  of  a  little  muddy  stream,  nearly  dry,  that 
lay  in  our  path,  across  which  there  was  but  one  bridge,  a  little 
log,  mud-covered  affair  not  to  exceed  twenty  feet  in  length. 
With  a  few  meii  out  on  the  flanks  the  column  at  once  put  a 
stop  to  the  scattering  fire  and  dashed  forward  through  the  nar 
row  forest  road,  capturing  here  and  there  a  picket  or  a  straggler 
and  keeping  up  a  running  fire  for  a  mile  or  more,  then  with  a 
shout  and  our  saber  battalion  in  the  advance,  closely  followed 
by  the  heavier  dragoon  portion  of  the  regiment,  we  went  whirl 
ing  down  upon  them,  no'-  thought  of  halting  until  the  little 
bridge  was  crossed,  the  hill  gained  and  we  found  ourselves 
within  pistol  range  of  a  heavy  park  of  artillery  supported  by 
a  division  of  infantry.  There  they  were,  in  plain  sight,  only  a 
few  rods  distant  through  the  trees;  there  was  evidently 
some  consternation  among  the  infantry;  but  the  artillery  met 
us  with  shell,  and  its  support,  or  those  immediately  near,  gave 
us  a  volley — bullets  and  buckshot  being  about  equally  divided. 
The  shelling  of  the  woods  was  calculated  to  strike  terror  into 
the  hearts  of  older  soldiers  than  we  were,  yet  remarkably  few 
showed  outward  signs  of  fear.  A  very  close  call  was  that  for 
Colonel  Sheridan,  who,  when  the  enemy  opened  with  shell,  had 
his  hat  knocked  from  his  head  by  a  piece  of  broken  shell,  and  as 
an  orderly  handed  it  up — "Rather  a  close  call,  Stephenson"- 
was  his  only  remark,  and  few  were  aware  how  near  we  came  to 
losing  our  Colonel  at  the  beginning  of  his  career.  "The 


50  HUNDUKI)     IJATTI.KS 

bridge!"  That  one  thought  seemed  to  seize  every  one,  and  before 
the  command  had  fairly  died  away  in  the  thick  smoke  that  sur 
rounded  us,  a  battalion  under  Campbell  had  dismounted  and 
were  in  line  ready  for  any  forward  movement  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy. 

Colonel  Sheridan  quietly  withdrew  his  troops  under 
cover  of  the  woods,  the  dismounted  men  covering  the  retreat 
safely,  and  in  a  short  time  all  were  back  across  the  bridge;  a 
few,  however,  trying  the  stream,  found  it  almost  bottomless  and 
only  succeeded  in  getting  out  with  extreme  difficulty.  One  of 
the  most  remarkable  escapes  occurred  to  an  orderly,  whose 
horse,  a  new  one,  could  not  be  checked  when  the  artillery  opened 
so  close.  Dashing  into  the  muddy  stream,  he  climbed  the  bank, 
panting  and  nearly  exhausted,  only  to  lose  his  footing  at  the 
very  top,  and  reeling,  fell  backward  ,1  distance  of  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  nearly  perpendicular  and  struck  upon  his  head,  but 
his  rider,  a  small,  youthful  soldier,  slipped  from  the  saddle  at  the 
very  crest  of  the  bank  and  landed  square  upon  his  fec't  unharm 
ed.  One  look  satisfied  him  the  horse  was  or  would  be  dead 
shortly,  and  he  mounted  an  unsaddled  mule  and  rode  away. 
This  showed  conclusively  what  a  splendid  opportunity  was  lost 
to  the  enemy  that  they  did  not  attempt,  at  least,  to  capture  the 
whole  of  us  by  a  rapid  forward  movement  at  the  time  our  bugle 
sounded  the  recall,  but  it  would  have  cost  them  dearly. 

The  expedition  was  successful  and  had  ended  without  doubt 
in  thoroughly  arousing  the  enemy  to  a  sense  of  the  dangers  that 
beset  them  if  they  lingered  there  long,  which  they  did  not  do, 
for  in  a  day  or  two  we  were  over  the  same  ground  again  and 
not  an  enemy  in  sight. 


IN    THE    WEST.  57 

It  appears  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  all  forces  toward 
Baldwin,  forty-one  miles  south  of  Corinth,  the  direction  in 
which  Rosecrans's  division  had  been  moving.  The  second  was 
therefore  soon  ordered  to  join  the  advance  down  the  Mobile  & 
Ohio  and  on  the  7th  we  were  on  the  gallop  along  that  railroad, 
and  passing  through  Baldwin  with  scarce  a  halt,  soon  brought 
up  at  the  little  station,  Guntown,  about  five  miles  farther  than 
-we  were  ordered  to  go,  and  therefore,  finding  no  enemy  in  sight, 
with  every  evidence  of  a  hasty  departure,  with  the  midsummer 
sun  beating  upon  the  little  band  of  Michigan  men,  who  had  not 
slept  nor  eaten  but  little  for  thirty  hours,  we  returned.  Our 
knapsacks  and  canteens  were  about  empty  and  twenty  miles  lay 
between  us  and  our  wagon  trains.  The  country  had  been 
stripped  by  the  retreating  enemy,  and  even  a  raw  onion  was 
looked  upon  as  a  luxury  to  be  enjoyed  only  by  the  tireless 
forager;  and  many  a  Yankee  took  his  first  lessons  in  drinking 
buttermilk  and  eating  "corn  pones"  as  we  sauntered  back  to  our 
camp  near  Booneville,  where  our  summer  outpost  campaign 
began,  June  9th,  1862. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  NORTH  MISSISSIPPI    CAMPAIGN PINE  HILLS BACK  TO  BOONE- 

VILLE THE         SECOND       KOOXEVILLE — RIENZI A       FLAG       OF 

TRUCE. 

June  10,  1862:  The  enemy  were  now  encamped  at  different 
towns  twenty  five  to  forty  miles  to  the  south  and  southwest  of 
Corinth,  aud  contented  themselves  with  an  occasional  scout  in 
our  immediate  front,  but  their  campaign  had  been  generally 
disastrous,  not  only  losing  many  of  their  best  troops,  either 
in  action  or  by  desertion,  but  greatly  disheartening  them  by 
their  loss  of  territory,  arms,  accoutrements  and  fortifications. 

Though  we  held  the  key  to  the  north  Mississippi  country — 
Corinth — with  the  railroads  leading  north,  east,  west  and  south, 
yet  the  climate  had  begun  to  tell  heavily  upon  our  troops,  and 
out  of  1,200  fighting  men  of  six  months  before,  the  regiment 
could  not  muster  over  450  to  500  effective  men.  The  most 
healthy  locations  for  a  camp  were  selected  for  all  the  troops  and 
it  fell  to  our  lot  to  take  up  a  position  between  Corinth  and 
Hamburg  Landing,  on  a  range  of  dry  pine  hills,  where  we  might 


IX    THE    WEST. 


not  only  recruit  the  shattered  health  of  the  men  but  also  the 
strength  of  our  worn  and  jaded  horses;  adding  new  ones  in  place 
of  those  entirely  worthless. 

Near  by  were  the  field  hospitals — long  rows  of  large  square 
tents  spread  beneath  the  few  scattered  trees,  and  from  which 
more  men  were  carried  out  to  their  "long  homes"  than  had  fallen 
upon  the  battle  field;  and  as  many  more  were  sent  away  to  the 
North  as  soon  as  they  were  able  to  creep  from  their  cots  upon 
which  they  had  tossed  for  many  weary  days  in  the  delirium  of 
fever;  or,  moving  about  camp,  living  skeletons,  around  whose 
emaciated  forms  the  coarse  array  clothing  hung  and  flapped 
like  animated  scare-crows,  hunting  for  something. 

Those  were  trying  days  for  oar  troops.  Generals  saw  their 
divisions  melt  into  brigades;  brigades  to  regiments  and  regi 
ments  to  battalions.  Men  lying  beneath  the  shade  of  hospital 
tents  saw  stretchers  brush  past  and  asked  no  questions.  It 
might  be  brother,  father  or  faithful  comrade;  self  preservation 
taught  them  only  to  ask  themselves,  "will  my  turn  come  next?" 
and  the  heart  grew  callous  and  indifferent,  though  men  were 
buried  by  the  score. 

The  few  remaining  days  of  June  went  speedily  by,  however, 
as  we  were  simply  recuperating,  and  our  duties  were  little  more 
than  a  picnic  from  the  9th  to  the  29th  of  June.  But  for  those 
twenty  days  of  light  duty  we  paid  dearly  afterward.  From  the 
left  and  rear  to  the  extreme  front  was  only  a  jump  of  little  more 
than  a  day.  We  were  getting  settled  down  in  camp,  a  bit 
homelike,  on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1862,  near  Booneville,  when 
early  in  the  morning — immediately  after  Sergeant  Smith  (after 
ward  Captain  Smith)  had  gone  out  with  his  company  to  relieve 


CO  HUNDRED    UATTLKS 

the  picket,  stationed  about  three  miles  and  a  half  south  and 
west  of  Booneville,  under  Lieutenant  Scranton  (afterward 
Major  Scranton),  word  came  back  that  our  pickets  were  being 
driven  in. 

It  appears  that  during  the  previous  week  a  company  of  the 
Third  Michigan  Cavalry  had  been  partially  captured  at  the 
same  point  during  the  night  while  on  picket  duty,  and,  that  fre 
quent  night  raids  had  been  made  on  outposts  all  through  that 
country.  As  we  looked  upon  this  as  a  sort  of  guerrilla  warfare 
that  deserved  to  be  stamped  out,  several  of  the  Second's  officers 
had  expressed  a  desire  to  be  attacked  in  the  same  manner.  In 
fact  we  were  all  getting  somewhat  conceited  with  our  death- 
dealing  revolving  rifles.  Therefore  when  Colonel  Sheridan  said 
in  his  quiet  way,  "Captain  Campbell,  you  may  take  two  com 
panies  more  out  and  see  what's  going  on,"  there  was  a  look  of 
eager  determination  upon  the  face  of  every  man  that  was  some 
thing  wicked  to  behold. 

When  Captain  Campbell  arrived  on  the  scene  he  discovered 
that  Lieutenant  Scranton  had  already  repulsed  the  enemy  twice, 
though  falling  back  each  time  and  that  his  (Campbell's)  arrival 
was  very  opportune,  for  the  enemy  were  swinging  quite  a  heavy 
column  around  to  our  left  and  were  likely  to  capture  or  de- 
morali/e  that  part  of  Lieutenant  Scranton's  command,  which  he 
was  then  hurrying  in  from  the  right  to  a  more  favorable  posi 
tion  on  the  Booneville  road. 

But  let  us  hear  what  Colonel  Sheridan  had  to  say  respecting 
the  second  Booneville: 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  CAVALRY  DIVISION, 
Camp  on  Kings  Creek,  Mississippi,  July  2d,  1862. 

SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedience  to  your 
instructions,  I  established  my  brigade  consisting  of  the  second 


IX    THE    WEST.  61 

Iowa  and  second  Michigan  cavalry  regiments  at  Booneville, 
Mississippi,  June  28th,  and  threw  out  strong  pickets  on  the 
numerous  roads  approaching  that  place. 

On  the  morning  of  July  1st,  a  cavalry  command  of  between 
four  thousand  and  five  thousand  men  under  General  Chalmers 
advanced  toward  Booneville  on  two  converging  roads.  The  head 
of  their  column  on  the  Booneville  and  Blackland  road  came  in 
contact  with  my  pickets  three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Booneville.  This  picket  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Scran- 
ton,  second  Michigan  cavalry,  fell  back  slowly,  taking  advan 
tage  of  every  tree  to  fire  from  until  they  came  to  the  point 
where  the  second  road  on  which  the  enemy  were  advancing  in 
tersected  this  road.  At  this  point  our  picket  had  a  strong  posi 
tion  and  good  cover  and  were  presently  reinforced  by  a  second 
company,  and  subsequently  by  three  companies  more,  all  of  the 
second  Michigan,  under  command  of  Captain  Campbell 

The  enemy  had,  up  to  this  time,  only  shown  the  heads  of 
his  columns.  At  this  point,  our  resistance  was  so  great,  that  the 
enemy  was  obliged  to  deploy  two  regiments  on  the  right  and 
left  of  the  road.  Information  was  then  sent  to  me,  that  the 
enemy  were  in  force.  I  sent  word  to  Captain  Campbell  to  hold 
the  enemy,  until  I  could  support  him,  and  if  necessary  to  fall 
back  slowly.  Previous  to  this  time,  I  had  stationed  one  bat 
talion,  second  Iowa,  in  Booneville.  I  then  directed  Colonel 
Hatch  to  leave  one  company  of  his  regiment  in  camp,  and  take 
the  balance  of  his  regiment  and  the  battalion  in  Booneville,  ex 
cept  two  saber  companies,  and  form  in  rear  of  Campbell,  cover 
his  fianks  and  support  him  by  a  charge,  should  the  enemy  break 
his  line.  While  this  was  being  done,  the  enemy  attempted  to 
drive  Captain  Campbell  from  his  position  by  a  charge  through 
the  open  field.  In  this  they  did  not  succeed,  but  were  gallantly 
repulsed  with  great  loss,  my  men  reserving  their  fire  until  they 
were  within  twenty-five  or  thirty  yards,  when  they  opened  a  fire 
on  them  with  their  Colt's  revolving  rifles.  They  then  com 
menced  turning  the  flanks  of  Captain  Campbell's  position,  when 
he  retired  to  another  strong  position  in  his  rear. 


(52  HUNDRED     BATTLES 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  saw  him  retiring,  they  again  charged 
him,  but  he  succeeded  in  repelling  them  by  collecting  his  men 
together  in  groups,  when  a  hand  to  hand  conflict  took  place,  the 
men  in  some  cases  using  the  butts  of  their  guns.  At  this  time, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hatch,  second  Iowa,  came  up  with  his  sup 
ports,  and  this  position  was  maintained  for  a  considerable  length 
of  time. 

The  enemy  again  commenced  his  flanking  movements,  pass 
ing  around  our  left,  crossing  the  railroad  and  approaching  the 
left  of  our  camp.  I  then  determined  to  turn  their  left  flank,  and 
make  a  bold  dash  at  their  rear;  this  was  handsomely  executed 
by  Captain  Alger,  second  Michigan,  with  four  saber  companies, 
two  from  second  Michigan,  and  two  from  second  Iowa.  The 
Captain  passed  around  their  left  flank  by  a  circuitous  route, 
until  he  came  directly  on  their  rear,  on  the  Blackland  road.  He 
then  charged  the  enemy  with  sabers,  and  drove  them  until  their 
overwhelming  numbers  obliged  him  to  retire.  At  the  same 
time  that  I  gave  the  order  to  Captain  Alger  to  attack  their  rear, 
I  directed  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hatch,  second  Iowa,  to  move  a 
portion  of  his  regiment  to  their  left  flank,  and  if  a  good  oppor 
tunity  occurred  to  make  a  charge.  This  movement  was  finely 
executed,  and  a  dash  made  successfully  at  their  left  flank. 

The  charge  of  Captain  Alger  directly  in  their  rear,  and  the 
dash  made  at  them  on  their  left,  by  Major  Coon,  second  Iowa, 
together  with  the  determined  and  stubborn  resistance  of  Captain 
Campbell,  with  his  one  hundred  and  sixty  riflemen  in  front,  so 
much  disconcerted  the  enemy,  that  they  commenced  falling 
back,  leaving  a  large  number  of  their  dead  and  wounded  officers 
and  men  on  the  field,  an-1  were  followed  up  a  distance  of  four 
miles.  At  this  point  the  enemy  crossed  a  difficult  swamp,  and 
night  coming  on,  the  pursuit  was  abandoned,  and  the  troops 
ordered  to  return  to  camp. 

Our  loss  in  this  affair  was  killed,  one;  wounded,  twenty- 
four;  missing,  sixteen;  total  casualties,  forty-one. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  must  have  been  severe,  as  we  were 
occupying  good  positions  all  the  time,  and  well  covered,  while 


IN    THE    WEST.  63 

they  used  the  open  ground  for  their  deployment.  They  have 
taken  a  number  of  wagons  from  the  people  to  carry  off  their 
dead  and  wounded.  Among  the  wounded  that  fell  into  our 
hands,  are  two  Lieutenants,  who  will  die. 

I  respectfully  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  General,  the  good 
conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  command  :  Colonel  Hatch, 
second  Iowa;  Major  Coon;  Captains  Gilbert  and  Queal,  second 
Iowa;  Captain  Campbell,  Captain  Alger,  Captain  Wells,  Captain 
Schuyler,  and  Lieutenants  Scranton,  Hutton,  and  Nicholson,  of 
the  second  Michigan,  all  behaved  with  great  gallantry, 

Major  Hepburn,  A.  A.  A.  General  Lee,  and  Lieutenant 
Thatcher,  who  acted  as  aids  during  the  day,  are  deserving  of 
great  praise. 

I  am  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Colonel  Commanding  Second  Brigade, 
CAPTAIN  R.  O.  SELFRIDGE,  Cavalry  Division. 

A.  A.  G.,  Cav.  Div.,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 
*******  ** 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 
July  2d,  1862. 

The  General  commanding,  announces  to  this  Army,  that  on 
the  1st  instant,  Colonel  P.  H.  Sheridan,  second  Michigan  cavalry, 
with  eleven  companies  of  the  second  Michigan,  and  eleven  compan 
ies  of  the  second  Iowa,  was  attacked,  near  Booneville,  by  eight  regi 
ments  of  rebel  cavalry  under  Chalmers,  and  after  an  eight  hours 
fight  defeated  and  drove  them  back,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field. 

The  coolness,  determination  and  fearless  gallantry   display 
ed  by  Colonel  Sheridan,  and  the  officers   and    men  of    his    com 
mand,  in  this  action,  deserve  the  thanks  and    admiration   of  the 
Army. 
****  ***** 

•  By  order  of  General  Rosecrans: 

W.  L.  ELLIOTT, 
Brigadier-General  and  Chief  of  Staff. 


C4  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  CAVALRY  DIVISION, 

July  2d,  1862. 

GENERAL: — The  enemy  have  retreated,  and  in  all  proba 
bility  to  Guntown  and  Saltillo.  There  are  none  of  them  to  be 
found  between  Booneville  and  Blackland. 

I  have  two  companies  of  infantry  and  a  battery  of  artillery 
for  support  furnished  by  General  Asboth,  which  is  all  that  is 
necessary  at  the  present  time. 

We  were  attacked  by  General  Chalmers,  with  the  follow 
ing  regiments:— Brewer's  200;  Say's  800;  Adam's  874;  Green's 
800;  first  Alabama  battalion,  180;  Kentucky  battalion,  180; 
Carson's  800;  Balsac's  800;  and  probably  two  others.  ' 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Colonel  Commanding. 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL  W.  L.  ELLIOTT, 

Chief  of  Staff,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

This  report  was  very  concise,  but  Colonel  Sheridan  did  not 
state  that  he  was  more  fit  for  the  hospital  than  active  service 
that  morning;  and  when  we  remember  the  plans,  how  they  were 
laid,  with  each  officer's  special  duty  so  interwoven  with  the 
whole  plan  of  operations,  we  are  compelled  to  acknowledge  that 
right  here  was  evidence  of  ti;ue  military  genius  in  this  young 
officer's  career  at  the  very  threshold  of  life — the  very  first  en 
gagement  he  ever  had  the  opportunity  of  planning  and  execut 
ing,  and  of  greater  importance  than  an  Indian  fight. 

What  Corinth  was  to  the  whole  Northern  army,  that  also 
was  Booneville  to  Corinth.  Roads  lead  to  Blackland,  Guntown, 
Tupelo,  Jackson  and  the  great  strategic  points  of  all  the  Miss 
issippi  valley;  and  the  opportunities  for  flank  movements  by  the 
Confederates  were  very  limited.  Hence,  the  defeat  of  Chal 
mers  by  Sheridan,  was  looked  upon  as  a  great  victory,  regard- 


IN    THE    WEST. 


65 


less  of  the  numbers  engaged,  or  the  losses  upon  either  side. 
A  study  of  the  following  map,  roughly  sketched  from 
memory,  will  enable  us  to  realize  the  full  importance  of  the 
position  and  the  brilliancy  of  the  engagement  that  ended  so 
victoriously  for  our  troops: 


CAMP 


JULY  I §i  1862 
N 

t 
w 


BOONEVILLE. 

By  referring  to  Colonel  Sheridan's  report  to  General  Rose- 
crans,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  force  opposed  to  us,  under  General 
Chalmers,  was  no  small  scouting  party  but  was  composed  of  the 
fighting  men  of  eight  regiments — at  least  4,500  men,  and  when 
these  formed  in  solid  column  and  charged  down  upon  our  little 
band  of  less  than  500  (166  at  that  particular  point)  in  that 
winding  woods  road  with  oak  openings  on  either  side,  through 
which  either  artillery,  infantry  or  cavalry  would  have  no 


66  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

trouble  in  operating,  it  is  not  saying  too  much  surely  to  write 
that  stubborn  engagement  down  as  among  the  most  heroic 
struggles  of  the  war. 

That  deadly  fire,  the  emptying  of  saddles,  that  half  living 
blockade  of  fallen  horses  and  men — who,  that  saw  it,  can  ever 
forget  the  struggling  mass,  groaning,  cursing,  shouting  and 
creeping  from  beneath  the  heaps  of  dead  and  dying  horses  and 
men?  Surely  this  is  more  than  a  skirmish.  And  our  men! 
Take  a  look  at  them.  Their  horses — where  are  they?  Xot  far 
off.  And  if  they  have  been  driven  from  one  position  their 
next  is  not  far  in  the  rear,  and  every  tree  and  bush  hides  a  whole 
battery  of  small  arms,  while  along  the  line,  with  a  look  of 
fierce  determination,  strides  the  "big  captain,"  pistol  in  hand, 
and  near  him  the  other  officers — the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  men — who  so  ably  assisted  him  in  that  hand  to  hand 
encounter  with  ten  times  their  number.  No  wonder  the  rebels 
thought  it  Yankee  brag,  when  afterward  told  how  small  the 
number  was  opposed  to  them  on  that  day;  and  when  Captain 
Alger,  with  his  four  companies,  dashed  in  upon  the  enemy's 
rear,  the  work  of  strategy  was  complete.  Bewildered,  uncer 
tain  as  to  our  real  strength,  discouraged,  outgeneraled,  the  gay 
Chalmers,  who  came  so  near  being  captured  by  Alger's  com 
mand,  turned  his  horse  and  allowed  his  men  to  save  themselves 
as  best  they  might. 

For  their  part  in  this  action  Captain  Cample! i  was  promot 
ed  to  lieutenant-colonel  and  Captain  Alger  was  promoted  to 
major.  Prompt  recognition  of  valuable  services  was  character 
istic  of  Sheridan.  With  Campbell,  standing  like  an  enraged 
tiger,  at  bay  in  his  lair;  and  Alger  and  his  trusty  followers 


IN    THE    WEST.  67 

impetuously  assaulting  him  in  rear,  Chalmers  did  well  to  retire 
and  look  better  into  his  situation.  If  he  did  not  know  Sheridan 
before,  he  knew  him  then. 

On  the  morrow,  when  the  writer,  as  aid  to  Colonel  Sheri 
dan,  went  over  the  grounds  with  an  escort  to  see  how  many 
wounded  were  left,  eyery  house  was  found  to  be  a  hospital, 
while  all  that  were  able  to  be  removed  had  gone  and  many  of 
the  dead  were  buried  or  carried  away. 

In  reviewing  that  engagement  after  a  lapse  of  more  than 
twenty  years,  the  thought  occurs  to  us  that  there  could  have 
been  no  greater  proof  of  the  wisdom  and  fitness  of  military  skill 
and  judgment  than  was  shown  in  the  arming  of  these  sturdy 
men  of  Michigan  with  just  such  arms  as  they  had;  drilling 
them  in  just  the  tactics  by  which  they  were  drilled  and  giving 
them  just  the  colonel  that  was  given  them.  And  let  it  be  re 
corded  in  the  annals  of  American  history  that  a  battalion  of 
dismounted  Michigan  cavalry  held  their  own  against  a  division 
of  cavalry  and  infantry,  on  equal  grounds,  without  earthworks, 
fence  or  thick  woods;  and  this  was  our  loss:  killed,  1;  wounded, 
25;  missing,  16;  total  casualties,  42.  And  thus  was  the  key  to 
this  important  outpost  held  without  reinforcements,  which 
reached  us  late  in  the  afternoon,  though  it  is  quite  probable  that 
the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  and  the  cheering  of  the  men  in 
camp  had  something  to  do  with  accelerating  the  movements  of 
the  enemy  toward  their  rear. 

This  victory  gave  us  comparative  rest  for  a  month,  during 
which  time  we  moved  camp  three  times,  looking  for  the  most 
desirable  location  that  could  be  found.  Good  water  and  a  dry 
camp  were  not  always  obtainable  in  that  land  of  swamps. 


OS  II  INDEED    HATTI.KS 

But  Kicnzi  came  the  nearest  to  being  a  perfect  camping 
ground  that  we  found  in  all  that  country,  while  pleasant  roads, 
an  abundance  of  open  fields  for  parade  and  drill  grounds  (to 
say  nothing  of  horse  races)  made  camp  life  quite  endurable  for 
those  who  were  blessed  with  moderate  good  health. 

Many  incidents,  not  strictly  historic,  will  be  reserved  for 
Part  Second  of  this  volume,  that  will  forever  stamp  Rienzi  as 
the  camp  of  all  others  filled  with  stirring  events  of  camp  life 
on  the  frontier,  including  "A  Flag  of  Truce,"  "Capturing  Out 
posts,"  etc.,  and  this  chapter  is  closed  with  Colonel  Sheridan's 
report  of  the  repulse  of  the  rebel  Colonel  Faulkner. 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  CAVALRY  DIVISION, 

August  27,  1862. 

CAPTAIN: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  my  cavalry 
pickets  on  the  Ripl^y  road  were  attacked  yesterday,  about  two 
o'clock  p.  m.,  by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  say  seven  hundred 
to  eight  hundred.  The  pickets  were  rapidly  driven  in,  followed 
by  a  small  detachment  of  the  enemy,  to  the  vicinity  of  my 
camp.  The  command  was  quickly  turned  out,  and  Colonel 
Hatch  directed,  with  two  battalions  of  his  regiment,  to  attack 
the  enemy,  supported  by  Colonel  Lee  with  two  battalions  of  the 
seventh  Kansas.  Upon  the  approach  of  this  force,  the  enemy 
exchanged  a  few  shots  with  them  and  broke  and  ran,  closely 
pursued  by  Colonels  Hatch  and  Lee,  who  were  directed  to  drive 
the  enemy  beyond  the  Hatchie.  The  second  Michigan  was  held 
in  reserve. 

The  enemy  made  a  stand  at  Nowland's  Store,  but  were 
attacked  so  vigorously  that  they  again  broke  and  fled,  this  time 
scattering  in  every  direction.  From  this  point  to  within  five 
miles  of  Ripley  there  was  a  complete  rout,  the  road  was  strewn 
with  shot-guns,  dead  horses,  hats,  coats,  blankets,  etc.  Colonel 
Faulkner,  commanding  this  rebel  force,  was  so  hard  pressed 


IN    THE    WEST.  69 

that  he  separated  from  his  command  on  one  of  the  little  by 
paths  and  made  his  escape.  He  left  us  his  hat,  however,  as  did 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  command. 

The  pursuit  was  continued  to  within  five  miles  of  Ripley, 
and  until  after  dark,  when  the  command  was  ordered  to  return 
to  camp  with  their  jaded  and  worn-out  horses. 

Our  loss  in  this  affair  was  two  badly  and  four  slightly 
wounded,  and  four  or  five  missing,  some  of  whom  I  think,  will 
probably  come  in.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  I  am  unable  to  state; 
it  was  understood  they  were  guerrillas;  unfortunately  eleven 
prisoners  were  brought  in.  About  two  hundred  shot-guns, 
twenty  horses,  and  a  large  number  of  pistols  were  also 
brought  in. 

The  effect  of  this  rout  must  be  very  discouraging  to  the 
enemy.  I  doubt  if  ever  they  will  fully  collect  together  again. 
All  but  three  companies  were  raw  levies.  The  effect  on  our 
men  was  very  exhilarating. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  promptness  with  which  the 
command  turned  out,  being  ready  and  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy 
in  fifteen  minutes  after  the  first  information  of  the  enemy's 
approach  was  received. 

P.  H.  SHEKIDAN, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
CAPTAEN    W.    C.    RUSSELL, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
OFFICIAL  : 

F.    D.    GRANT, 

Lieutenant-Colonel,    A.   I).  C. 

As  usual,  the  second  Michigan  was  immediately  sent  out 
after  the  return  of  the  chasing  party  and  the  country  was 
scouted  beyond  Ripley.  But  the  second  Iowa  and  seventh  Kan 
sas  had  done  their  work  thoroughly;  no  enemy  was  found, 
except  in  the  distance  a  shadowy  horseman,  repeating  the  tac 
tics  of  yesterday. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

FROM  CORINTH  TO  PERRYVILLE — COL.  PHIL.   GETS  HIS  FIRST  STAR 

CAPT.   ARCHIE  CAMPBELL  MADE  COLONEL INCIDENTS    BY  THE 

WAY AFLOAT      ON      THE      OHIO — CINCINNATI LOUISVILLE — 

GENERAL  BUELL ROUSSEAU  AND  SHERIDAN. 

The  comparative  quiet  our  troops  had  enjoyed  in  the  north 
Mississippi  country  since  the  victory  of  Sheridan  over  Chalmers 
at  Booneville  had  been  a  great  blessing  to  the  Confederates  under 
Beauregard,  giving  them  time  to  mature  plans,  offensive,  rather 
than  defensive,  and  they  improved  it  in  a  bold  campaign,  far  to 
our  left,  not  stopping  to  menace  Nashville  or  any  other  strong 
hold  we  might  have  had. 

September  1st,  1802,  Bragg's  army,  crossing  the  Tennessee 
river,  marched  triumphantly,  without  check  or  hindrance, 
through  the  states  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  nor  stopped 
until  they  had  neared  the  gates  to  Ohio  and  Indiana  at  Cincin 
nati  and  Louisville. 

The  abandonment  of  Corinth  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  but 
among  the  troops  withdrawn  from  that  key  to  the  South,  Sheri- 


IN    THE    WEST. 


dan  requested  and  obtained  leave  to  bring  with  him  his  old  reg 
iment.  He  had  now  won  his  first  star,  and  was  ordered  to  take 
command  of  an  infantry  division. 

Early  in  September,  1862,  the  outposts  south  of  Corinth 
were  drawn  in  and  preparations  made  for  leaving  a  strong  gar 
rison  force  at  Corinth,  while  the  main  part  of  that  army  started 
on  a  race  with  Bragg  for  Kentucky. 

Railway  transportation  was  used  as  far  as  possible  and  the 
9th  of  September  found  the  Second  at  Columbus,  Kentucky, 
having  filled  every  car,  outside  and  in,  to  its  utmost  capacity, 
riding  on  top  of  box  cars,  many  of  them,  with  that  reckless  aban 
don  and  boisterous  hilarity  so  common  to  soldiers  under  such 
circumstances.  It  was  more  like  an  armed  picnic  excursion 
than  a  headlong  rush  to  battle. 

At  Columbus  we  embarked  on  .  government  transports,  and 
this  embarkation  was  a  scene  long  to  be  remembered,  for  its 
novelty  and  excitement. 

Thirteen  transports  lay  at  the  levee,  receiving  their  burdens 
of  horses,  mules  and  government  wagons.  From  frowning 
bluffs  looked  down  upon  us  great  black  iron  "dogs  of  war;"  and 
at  their  base,  upon  a  level  plateau,  lay  scattered  about  heaps  of 
torpedoes,  shot  and  shell.  Braying  mules  and  neighing  horses 
were  hurried  —  carried  if  necessary  —  along  the  plank  on  board, 
occasionally  falling,  feet  uppermost,  in  the  muddy  waters  below 
—  disappearing  for  a  moment,  then  clambering  out  to  be  led  and 
pushed,  more  vigorously  and  with  less  patience,  along  the  giddy 
walk;  and  when  night  closed  in  all  were  on  board,  the  plank 
hauled  in,  and  with  a  bright  Southern  moon  for  our  light, 


V2.  HUNDRED    UATTI.KS 

myriads  of  twinkling  stars,  flashing  jack-lights  and  glaring  fur 
nace  fires,  the  ropes  were  cast  off  and  we  set  out  for  the  Ohio 
river. 

The  entire  trip  was  a  grand  holiday  rest,  and  never  did 
troops  enter  into  the  spirit  of  fun  with  greater  zest  than  on  this 
occasion. 

In  ten  days,  after  passing  through  some  little  excitement 
occasionally  from  scattering  guerrilla  fire  along  the  bank,  we 
halted  at  Louisville,  only  to  learn  that  Cincinnati  was  threatened, 
and  on  to  that  point  we  pushed  without  disembarking. 

But  we  were  immediately  ordered  to  return  to  Louisville, 
Avhere  we  found  the  city  under  great  excitement.  According 
to  rumor  the  whole  rebel  army  was  ready  to  march  in  and  take 
possession.  But  our  forces  were  now  arriving  in  large  numbers, 
and  the  city  began  to  breathe  more  freely.  Earthworks 
were  hurriedly  thrown  up  around  the  suburbs,  from  river  to 
river,  while  the  cavalry  began  to  push  out,  scouting  and  finding 
the  river  road  southwest  clear  nearly  to  Elizabethtown. 

The  Second  made  a  dash  upon  that  place,  capturing  the  out 
posts  and  a  portion  of  the  troops  stationed  there.  A  Confeder 
ate  flag  waved  defiantly  from  the  court  house,  but  Sergeant- 
Major  Hoyt,  with  a  few  men  from  Company  F,  rushed  in,  re 
gardless  of  how  many  might  be  secreted  there,  and  tore  it  down, 
bringing  it  away  triumphantly.  We  retired  leisurely  to  our 
camp  at  Louisville,  and  immediately  began  our  heavy  picket  duly. 
whole  regiments  going  out  and  standing  to  horse  all  night. 

On  one  of  those  darkest  of  Southern  dark  nights  we  took 
the  Bardstowir  pike,  and  found  the  enemy  strongly  posted 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  city.  We  crept  up  as  near  as  possible 


I1ST    THE    WEST.  73 

and  received  a  raking  fire  of  grape  shot  from  a  battery,  but 
fortunately  they  fired  low  and  only  one  man  was  killed — Lieu 
tenant  Daniel  Moody,  of  Company  E,*  the  first  blood  of  the 
Kentucky  campaign.  Knowing  their  position  and  having  no 
desire  for  night  battle,  we  retired  a  short  distance  and  stood  to 
horse  all  night,  but  no  further  demonstrations  were  made  on 
either  side. 

Colonel  Sheridan  had  now  received  his  commission  as 
Brigadier-General,  to  date  back  to  the  Boonevillc  fight,  and 
Captain  Campbell  was  made  colonel  from  the  same  date. 

We  received  some  recruits  and  new  horses  and  once  more 
the  regiment  was  finely  mounted  and  in  good  shape.  The 
struggle  immediately  began.  On  the  first  day  of  October,  1862, 
the  grand  army  of. Don  Carlos  Buell  marched  out  of  Louisville 
with  58,000  men — a  grand  pageantry  of  war — flags  flying,  bands 
playing,  gaily  caparisoned  horses  dancing,  and  the  heavy  rattle 
and  clank  of  artillery  wheels  mingling  with  martial  strains  of 
fife  and  drum  beat. 

Proudly  the  Second  responded  to  the  order — to  "take  the 
front,"  upon  the  center,  while  from  every  road  troops  cajne 
pouring  out  of  the  city.  Would  this  be  another  "Bull  Run?" 

Out  upon  the  Bardstown  pike  we  marched,  and  soon  met 
the  enemy's  outposts.  Firing,  then  retire  to  give  the  alarm,  and 
then  began  that  memorable  Kentucky  campaign — cavalry  at 
tacking  skirmish  lines;  sometimes  mounted,  oftener  dismounted, 
steadily  moving  forward,  pressing  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  and  a 
continuous  running  fight  of  seven  days  followed,  over  every 
foot  of  ground  from  Louisville  to  Perryville,  during  the  week 

*He  had  that  day  received  notice' that  a  lieutenant's  commission  was  on  the 
way  for  him,  but  he  was  never  entered  upon  the  roll  as  such. 


74  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

that  intervened,  by  night  or  by  day,  sleeping  as  we  could  catch 
it,  by  the  road  side,  in  the  fence  corners  and  in  grove,  or  woods; 
always  without  tents,  and  generally  with  only  hard  bread,  bacon 
and  coffee  for  our  rations — the  country  having  been  stripped  by 
Bragg's  army.  Clouds  of  dust  filled  the  air — no  rains  for 
weeks,  and  the  only  liquid  refreshment  found  to  moisten  our 
parched  throats  was  from  muddy,  stagnant  pools,  in  rocky  dry 
creek  bottoms,  through  which  the  whole  Confederate  cavalry 
had  tramped.  Was  it  any  wonder  that  men  swallowed  Ken 
tucky  apple-jack  in  draughts  that  would  have  killed  a  man  un 
der  ordinary  circumstances  ? 

We  neared  the  hills  beyond  which  Chaplin  Creek  wound 
along,  and  to  it  we  were  looking  with  eager  eyes,  hoping  in  a 
few  hours  to  revel  in  the  luxury  of  clear  water. 

A  wreath  of  smoke;  a  sharp  crackling  report;  a  whizzing, 
screeching  sound,  followed  by  a  bursting  shell  close  to  our  lines, 
warned  us  that  the  enemy  had  found  a  good  place  to  make  a 
stand. 

This  being  Kentucky  soil,  it  was  proper  that  a  Kentucky 
regiment  should  have  the  first  opportunity  to  crush  the  invaders. 
A  well  mounted  regiment  of  them — the  seventh — dashed  away 
in  good  style,  down  across  the  valley  and  up  the  opposite  hill. 

It  was  probably  their  first  charge,  and  therefore  we  should 
not  lay  it  up  against  them,  if  immediately  on  striking  the 
enemy  and  finding  them  strongly  posted  with  grape  and  canis 
ter  in  abundance,  they  very  soon  "struck  for  their  homes,"  hat- 
less  and  considerably  demoralized. 

It  was  a  very  unsoldier-like  thing  for  the  men  of  the  Sec 
ond  to  laugh  and  shout,  and  they  were  immediately  given  an 


IN  THE  WEST.  75 

opportunity  to  do  better;  but  whether  from  pride  or  otherwise 
they  moved  up  with  a  few  companies  thrown  out,  dismounted 
and  staid. 

The  battle  of  Perryville  has  never  been  fully  understood 
by  the  general  public.  It  has  been  treated  by  newspaper  histo 
rians  as  a  mere  skirmish.  How  many  are  there  that  ever  knew 
that  nearly  10,000  men  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  that 
the  struggle  was  almost  continuous  either  on  the  right  or 
left,  and  often  at  both  wings,  from  sunrise  until  long  after 
dark  ?  Fourteen  hours  of  fire  and  smoke,  with  lead  and  iron 
hail,  without  food  or  water,  deserves  more  than  a  contemptuous 
notice. 

It  will  not  be  attempted  to  do  that  battle  entire  justice  in 
this  volume,  but  we  feel  it  due  our  regiment  and  all  the  troops 
that  participated  in  that  fierce  struggle  to  record  in  brief  some 
of  the  general  movements,  and,  if  possible,  direct  attention  to 
the  causes  which  led  to  our  failure  in  securing  not  only  victory 
for  our  arms  but  a  crushing  defeat  for  the  enemy. 

The  Second,  with  two  companies  thrown  out  in  advance, 
had  driven  the  enemy's  rear  guard  across  Doctor's  Fork  of 
Chaplin  Creek,  on  the  Springfield  road,  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
October  7th,  and  beyond  that  haystack  which  has  been  made 
historic.  Here  we  were  checked  by  sharpshooters.  At  first 
their  firing  was  so  far  away  on  the  hills,  removed  from  the  main 
body  of  their  troops,  that  we  could  not  hear  the  reports  of  their 
guns,  but  their  bullets  were  uncomfortably  close  with  their  hiss 
ing  music.  One  of  our  companies  was  deployed  on  the  right 
and  one  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  creeping  forward,  dis 
mounted,  we  determined  to  dislodge  them,  when  down  upon  us- 


HUNDKED    liA'I  II  1> 


with  a  Texas  yell  came  a  squadron  of  rangers,  their  leader 
mounted  upon  a  fine  gray  stallion.  Giving  them  a  well  directed 
volley  they  were  scattered,  the  commander  *f ailing  with  a  mor 
tal  wound.  His  comrades  abandoned  him,  for  many  of  them 
were  apparently  hard  hit,  but  the  horse  stood  mutely  by,  until 
the  dying  captain  was  removed  to  a  house  near,  which  at  once 
became  a  hospital,  and  this  was  the  first  victim  of  Perryville. 

The  charging  party  returned  to  their  forces  on  the  hill; 
their  artillery  opened  on  the  mounted  portion  of  the  Second  as 
they  stood  near  our  skirmish  line,  and  it  began  to  look  as  if  we 
were  to  close  the  day  in  a  general  engagement.  Our  line  was 
soon  strengthened  by  infantry  and  artillery,  but  it  was  now  too 
late  for  any  further  advance  that  night,  and  the  cavalry  were 
glad  to  give  up  the  post  of  honor  for  one  of  rest. 


PERRY  VI Ll.W. 


IN  THE  WEST.  77 

Early  in  the  morning  of  October  8th,  "those  revolving 
rifles"  were  wanted  at  the  front  again.  We  found  the  enemy 
had  retired  a  short  distance,  but  we  soon  uncovered  their  posi 
tion  after  crossing  Doctor's  Fork,  where  we  were  met  by  a 
brisk  fire  from  musketry,  lodged  in  a  wooded  hill  beyond,  at 
easy  range.  The  regiment  was  immediately  ordered  to  "dis 
mount  and  fight  on  foot."  Horses  were  left  in  the  rear  and  the 
men  only  checked  their  steps  when  it  was  discovered  an  unusu 
ally  large  body  of  sharpshooters  were  decimating  our  ranks. 

The  advance,  consisting  of  six  companies,  under  command 
of  Major  Alger,  pressed  forward  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.* 

"Under  cover"  was  shouted  along  the  line,  and  every  puff 
of  smoke  was  met  by  another.  Two  regiments  of  sharp 
shooters  confronting  each  other  meant  no  boys'  play. 

We  were  now  face  to  face  with  the  Arkansas  sharp 
shooters.  A  hand,  a  hat,  or  the  smallest  part  of  a  body  exposed, 
on  either  side,  was  sure  to  receive  a  bullet. 

During  this  short  stop  seventeen  men  of  Company  D  went 
down;  other  companies  lost,  but  not  so  heavily.  But  we  had 
five  bullets  to  their  one,  and  their  fire  was  very  soon  silenced  by 
our  steady  pouring  of  lead  into  their  hiding  places,  and  the 
enemy  were  glad  to  creep  rapidly  along  the  ground,  and  behind 
trees  until  the  brow  of  the  hill  put  them  in  temporary  safety. 
But  in  doing  so  they  lost  heavily.  The  enemy  formed  a  new 
line  near  by.  Then,  as  if  seized  by  a  sudden  impulse,  the 
entire  regiment  sprang  to  their  feet,  flew  over  the  fence  and 
mounted  the  ridge,  nor  checked  their  steps  until  they  had 

*Major  Alger  was  immediately  after  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
sixth  cavalry,  and  later  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  fifth,  serving  in  the  Shenandoah  with 
Sheridan,  and  later  was  brevetted  for  meritorious  service  to  brigadier  and  major- 
general. 


78  HUNDRED  BATTLKS 

driven  the  enemy  down  the  hill  on  the  other  side.  Then 
the  enemy's  new  line  met  us,  and  it  was  too  hot  for  so  small 
a  number,  even  with  revolving  rifles.  Again  the  men  were  or 
dered  under  cover,  and  a  part  of  the  regiment  withdrawn. 
This  was  a  signal  for  the  Confederates,  and  leaping  to  their  feet 
they  rushed  in  strong  force  upon  our  battalion  and  we  hastily 
retired.  Here  Captains  Weatherwax  and  Barrows  were  each 
shot  through  the  thigh.  Captain  Weatherwax  hobbled  off  on 
one  leg  with  the  bullets  plowing  the  face  of  the  hill  all  around 
him.  Captain  Barrows  was  also  brought  away. 

And  now  our  own  infantry,  the  second  Missouri  and  forty- 
fourth  Illinois,  came  to  our  relief,  and  gallantly  took  the  front 
with,  "You  have  done  enough,  boys,  for  this  morning,"  and  at 
sight  of  them  the  enemy  fell  back  rapidly. 

Not  a  -waver  along  the  line;  but  that  steady  tramp!  tramp! 
tramp!  moving  on  up  over  the  hill.  The  scattering  ceased  and 
the  only  sound  to  be  heard  was  the  muffled  tread  of  armed  men. 
Again  the  rattling  fire,  but  not  a  step  was  broken,  and  now  we 
see  those  men  with  iron  nerve  raise  their  polished  arms  to  a 
level  with  their  eyes  and — Woo-o-o!  as  if  one  hand  had  moved 
the  whole;  and  forward  upon  double  quick  they  go — loading 
and  firing  at  will,  as  they  run.  The  enemy  were  driven  from 
the  ridge,  and  now  as  we  look  to  the  right  we  see  our  Phil  and 
staff  riding  along  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  know  at  once  that 
these  are  a  part  of  his  division. 

The  wounded  are  removed.  Barrett's  and  Hiscock's  bat 
teries  are  ordered  up  the  right  of  the  Springfield  road  and 
Loomis's  battery  on  the  left,  where  we  moved  and  formed  in  his 
front  and  re'ar  as  a  support,  and  here  that  old  prince  among 


IX  THE   WEST.  79 

artillerymen  fired  away,  over  our  heads,  across  the  valley,  warn 
ing  the  enemy  by  his  wonderful  close  shots  that  they  were  no 
match  for  him  at  long  range  and  that  they  were  being  watched. 
For  an  hour  or  more  an  artillery  duel  was  here  carried  on,  the 
enemy's  artillery  occupying  the  hills  near  Perryville. 

What  was  occurring  in  front  of  Sheridan  we  can  only  con 
jecture,  but  we  knew  that  his  artillery  was  busy,  and  that  occa 
sionally  there  were  flank  fires,  met  by  our  infantry  with  crash 
and  cheer,  and  our  lines  were  as  yet  unbroken.  General  Sheri 
dan's  official  report  of  his  part  in  that  engagement  has  been 
kindly  furnished  and  will  tell  the  story  from  his  own  pen. 

As  yet  there  were  no  demonstrations  upon  our  center  from 
the  enemy's  infantry,  but  Loomis's  eagle  eye  swept  the  field, 
and  his  gruff  voice  fairly  shook  the  hills  as.  turning  to  General 
Rousseau,  who  had  just  rode  up  from  the  left,  he  roared,  "Gen 
eral,  what  is  that  away  up  that  pike  across  yonder?" 

"Well,  I  should  say  it's  dust!" 

"I  should  say  so.  Oh,  I'm  not  so  full  but  I  could  tell  that, 
ha,  ha!"  and  that  magnificent  voice  again  burst  out  full  above 
the  bang  and  crash  of  his  "Cold water  pets."*  The  cloud  of 
dust  grew.  The  enemy's  artillery  fire  from  the  Perryville  hills 
slackened. 

Again  that  muttered  thunder  from  Loomis: 

"General,  that's  a  large  body  of  troops,  and  that's— yes, 
Harrodsburg  pike.  I  guess  we  have  tread  on  the  tail  of  Mr. 
Bragg's  coat,  ha,  ha!" 

"Here  orderly,  where's  my  glass?"  from  Rousseau. 

"Mine  is  at  your  service,  General,"  and  taking  it  from  his 

*It  will  be  remembered  that  Loomis's  battery  was  known  as  the  "Coldwater" 
artillery. 


80  HINDRKI)    MATTLKS 

hand,  ho  gazed  long  and  carefully,  never  dreanvng  that  there 
was  a  hidden  enemy  much  nearer.  Returning  the  glass  appar 
ently  satisfied  that  he  must  move  his  division  up  from  the  left  to 
meet  them  at  the  best  possible  vantage  ground,  ie  jocosely  re 
marked: 

"Well,  Loomis,  you  are  all  right,  you  can  give  them  a  small 
sized  hell  right  here.  I'm  a  little  lame,  reckon  I'll  have  to  be 
going,"  and  he  jogged  off  back  to  his  division  and  was  soon 
seen  moving  quietly  along,  half  a  mile  to  our  left,  with  in 
structions  from  McCook  (his  corps  commander)  to  go  as  near  to 
Chaplin  Creek  as  possible  (our  men  were  suffering  for  water.) 

Rousseau  expected  some  resistance,  but  he  was  not  prepared 
for  an  attack  from  the  whole  of  Hardee's  corps. 

As  they  neared  the  bluffs  they  probably  followed  their 
skirmish,  lines  closer  than  was  prudent.  In  fact,  closer  than 
Rousseau  intended  they  should.  But  the  enemy  kept  giving  way 
and  it  was  impossible  for  our  troops  to  resist  the  temptation  to 
follow. 

Suddenly,  while  Rousseau  was  making  observations  to  his 
right,  Hardee's  corps  arose,  as  if  from  the  earth,  and  poured 
a  murderous  fire  into  Rousseau's  division.  Almcst  at  the  first 
volley  Generals  Tyrrell  and  Jackson  fell,  and  Colonel  Webster, 
commanding  a  brigade,  with  them. 

Among  the  regiments  composing  Rousseau's  division  were 
several  that  had  been  pushed  hurriedly  forward  from  their  re 
cruiting  rendezvous  at  the  North,  without  discipline,  scarce 
knowing  enough  of  military  tactics  to  execute  a  successful 
"Right  face!"  Left  without  brigade  commanders,  and  a 
murderous  fire  pouring  upon  them,  it  is  no  wonder  they  were 


PHILIP  H.  SHERIDAN, 
COLONEL  SECOND  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL,  UNITED  STATES  ARMY. 


IN    THE    WEST.  81 

driven  back  like  sheep  before  the  disciplined  troops  of  General 
Hardee,  with  the  flower  of  the  Confederate  army.  But,  General 
Rousseau  had  made  one  mistake,  a  very  common  one — a  lack  of 
caution — and  he  instantly  resolved  to  correct  it  or  die  in  the  at 
tempt.  He  rode  fearlessly  along  the  lines  as  the  men  fell  back, 
firing,  the  air  fairly  blue  with  lead,  and  shouting  his  commands, 
was  the  moving  spirit  of  the  hour.  They  obeyed  him. 
Every  man  stood  firm  and  the  enemy  recoiled  before  that  stub 
born  band,  that  stood  firing  over  their  fallen  comrades. 

A  large  part  of  our  artillery  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  when  the  balance  of  McCook's  corps  came  to  the  res 
cue  and  a  part  of  the  field  and  artillery  were  re-taken. 

Within  a  few  miles  lay  Buell,  with  half  his  army.  Anxious 
eyes  were  turned  as  if  the  tramp  of  reinforcements  could  be 
heard;  but  none  came  and  we  only  knew  that  Hardee  had  been 
reinforced  and  McCook  was  holding  his  ground  at  the  left, 
while  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  were 
appalling. 

Between  McCook's  position  on  the  left  and  Sheridan's  on  the 
right  was  a  space  of  half  a  mile,  over  which  no  heavy  fighting 
had  occurred,  and  this  must  be  held  if  possible  by  the  cavalry, 
with  the  gallant  Loomis  on  our  right  sweeping  the  plain  in  our 
front  and  the  hills  beyond;  or  when  occasion  required  pouring  a 
deadly  enfilading  fire  into  Hardee. 

The  loss  of  that  hill  was  a  serious  one  to  the  enemy.  It  was 
the  pivot  upon  which  swung  the  fate  of  the  day.  Had  it  been 
crowned  with  impregnable  works,  it  could  not  have  been  of 
more  value  to  us. 

Firing  increased  in  front  of   Sheridan.     The  awful  roar  in 


82  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

front  of  Rousseau  told  of  renewed  struggles.  Cheers  rent  the 
air;  lines  wavered,  gave  way  and  rallied  again  in  quick  suc 
cession. 

The  position  of  the  cavalry  was  an  unenviable  one.  Shot 
and  shell  from  either  wing  came,  crossing  each  other,  and  drop 
ping  in  our  midst.  Still  the  cavalry  remained,  ready  to  strike 
when  and  where  most  needed. 

The  blood  red  sun  sank  lower  in  the  western  horizon,  half 
obscured  by  smoke  and  dust.  Would  it  "stand  still,"  or  bring 
this  struggle  to  an  end  ?  Every  nerve  seems  drawn  to  its  fullest 
tension  as  we  stand,  and  watch,  and  wait.  Every  moment  seems 
an  age.  Gladly  would  we  sweep  down  upon  the  enemy's  flanks 
and  end  this  suspense. 

But  lower  sank  the  sun,  and  as  the  twilight  shadows  gatheR-<l 
round,  scattering  shots  from  skirmishers  in  front  of  Sheridan  lu- 
gan  to  attract  our  attention. 

The  boom  of  a  single  cannon  from  Barrett's  battery  continued 
at  regular  intervals.  A  dark  line  of  infantry  crouched  behind 
the  artillery.  Cheers  of  an  assaulting  enemy  break  upon  the  air 
close  to  Sheridan.  Our  artillery  was  apparently  silenced.  Had 
they  abandoned  their  guns?  Would  there  be  no  further  resis 
tance?  Great  Heavens!  how  the  earth  trembles,  as  from  the 
throats  of  ten  guns,  double  shotted  with  canister,  there  pours 
forth  a  sheet  of  liquid  fire.  The  cheering  ceased;  but  for  a 
moment  only,  when,  bravely  facing  death,  the  cnomy  come 
again,  only  to  be  met  with  another,  as  terrible  as  the  first. 

Then  was  heard  the  voice  of  Sheridan— "Up  boys,  and  give 
'em  hell!"  and  springing  to  their  feet  our  infantry  dashed  upon 


IN    THE    WEST. 


83 


the  wavering  lines,  putting    them   to    flight    and    covering    the 
ground  with  the  fallen. 

Our  attention  was  now  attracted  to  the  left  where  the 
firing  grew  hotter,  and  we  move  up  to  assist  Rousseau;  but  the 
sound  of  musketry  died  away  as  the  darkness  settled  down,  and 

the  artillery  alone  kept  up  a  defiant  roar  at  close  range  until  long 
after  dark,  while  the  bursting  shells  were  above  and  about  us, 
or  plunged  with  a  whirling  heavy  thud  into  the  hill  in  our  rear. 
At  last  silence  came,  broken  only  by  the  low,  moaning  wave 
that  came  up  from  five  thousand  upturned  faces;  and  spectral 
figures,  bearing  lanterns  and  stretchers,  moved  about,  searching 
out  the  living  from  among  the  dead. 


NIGHT    SCENE    AT     PERRYVILLE. 

From  BuelPs  official  reports  it  appears  that  he  had  58,000 
men,  but  there  were  22,000  new  troops  that  were  almost  entirely 
without  drill  or  discipline,  and  we  had  not  intended  fighting  at 
the  point  where  the  battle  was  forced  upon  McCook's  and  Gil 
bert's  corps;  and,  that  for  two  hours  during  the  severe  repulse  to 
Rousseau's  division  Buell  had  no  word  from  McCook  and  sup 
posed  our  advance  was  simply  having  a  severe  skirmish. 


84  HUNDRED    BATTLKS 

While  all  military  authorities  that  knew  Buell  gave  him 
credit  for  being  one  of  the  best  organizers  that  our  army  con 
tained,  nearly  all  united  in  condemning  him  for  not  throwing 
forward  his  available  troops  when  it  became  evident  we  must 
fight  or  suffer  the  demoralizing  influences  of  a  retreat.  Yet 
many  thoughtful  military  men,  on  sober  second  judgment,  admit 
that  General  Buell  received  more  than  his  share  of  condemna 
tion.  That  at  least  McCook  should  receive  adverse  criticism 
for  precipitating  that  battle  without  consulting  his  superior, 
and  that  General  Gilbert  and  General  McCook  failed  to  act  in 
concert;  in  fact  that  Gilbert  left  the  right  to  be  managed  by 
division  commanders,  who,  though  perhaps  never  so  able,  were 
not  kept  fully  posted  respecting  the  center  and  left;— in  short 
that  these  two  corps  were  not  properly  in  supporting  distance  of 
each  other. 

Our  loss  in  this  engagement  was  916  killed;  2,94:}  wounded; 

484  missing. 

Folk's  corps  of  Bragg's  army  contained  35,000  effective  men, 
the  best  in  their  service;  and  with  these  Polk  really  fought  that 
battle,  while  Bragg  was  away  at  Frankfort  with  the  remainder 
of  his  army,  organizing  a  state  government  and  expecting  at 
least  20,000  recruits  to  his  army,  for  whom  he  had  brought  arms 
with  him.  But  he  was  greatly  disappointed  at  the  indifference 
of  the  Kentuckians  and  left  the  State  in  disgust— his  army 
greatly  demoralized,  and  he  lost  about  15,000  men  in  all,  includ 
ing  desertions.  His  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  never 
correctly  known,  but  must  have  been  at  least  double  ours,  as 
they  were  the  assailants,  and  whole  brigades  were  practically  an 
nihilated—notably  in  front  of  Sheridan  when  his  batteries 


IN    THE    WEST.  85 

opened  upon  them  with  canister,  at  sunset,  and  were  charged 
on  the  flank  by  Carlin's  brigade  at  the  critical  moment  and 
driven  wildly  through  Perryville,  where  a  large  train  of  wag 
ons  and  140  men  and  officers  were  captured. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  operations  of  the  eleventh 
division,  army  of  the  Ohio,  in  the  Battle  of  Perryville,  Ken 
tucky,  October  8th,  1862: 

HEADQUARTERS  ELEVENTH  DIVISION,  ARMY  OF  THE  OHIO, 
Camp  on  Rolling  Fork,  six  miles  south  of 
Lebanon,  Ivy.,  October  23,  1862. 

CAPTAIN: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report 
of  the  operations  of  my  division,  in  the  action  of  the  8th  instant, 
near  Perryville,  Kentucky: 

In  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  General  com 
manding  I  directed  Colonel  Dan.  McCook,  with  his  brigade  and 
Barrett's  battery,  to  occupy  the  bights  in  front  of  Doctor's 
creek,  so  as  to  secure  water  for  our  men.  This  was  done  very 
handsomely,  after  a  short  skirmish  at  daylight  in  the  morning, 
giving  us  full  possession  of  the  hights.  In  about  two  hours 
afterwards  the  enemy  advanced  in  considerable  force,  through  a 
line  of  heavy  timber  on  the  eastern  slope,  to  drive  us  from  this 
position.  I  had,  however,  in  the  meantime  ordered  forward 
Colonel  Laibold's  brigade  and  Hescock's  battery,  so  that  I  felt 
myself  well  prepared,  and  strong  enough  to  receive  him.  I  then 
directed  Colonel  Laibold  to  advance  two  of  his  old  regiments 
and  drive  the  enemy  from  the  timber,  and  at  the  same  time  put 
the  batteries  into  position.  Colonel  Laibold  succeeded  in  driv 
ing  the  enemy  back  down  the  hill  and  across  Chaplin  creek, 
after  an  obstinate  contest,  in  which  the  loss  was  severe  on  both 
sides,  and  Captain  Barrett  with  one  section  of  his  battery,  and 
Lieutenant  Taliaferro  with  one  section  of  Hescock's  battery, 
drove  the  enemy  from  every  position  he  took. 

About  this  time    General   McCook,  with  his    corps,    under 


86  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

artillery  fire  from  the  enemy,  made  his  appearance  on  my  left, 
when  I  advanced  Captain  Hescock's  battery  to  a  very  good 
position  in  front  of  the  belt  of  timber  above  mentioned,  where  he 
had  an  enfilading  fire  on  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  valley  of  Chaplin  creek  and  advanced,  at  the  same 
time,  six  regiments  to  support  him.  The  fire  of  Captain  Hes- 
cock  was  here  very  severely  felt  by  the  enemy,  who  attempted 
to  dislodge  him  by  establishing  a  battery  at  short  range;  but 
Hescock's  firing  was  still  severe,  and  his  shots  so  well  directed 
and  effective,  as  to  force  the  enemy's  battery  from  its  new 
position  in  ten  minutes. 

The  enemy  then  placed  two  batteries  on  my  right  flank,  and 
commenced  massing  troops  behind  them  with  the  apparent  in 
tention  of  making  an  attack  on  that  front,  when,  by  the  direc 
tion  of  Major-General  Gilbert,  I  reoccupied  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

I  had  no  sooner  gotten  into  position  than  the  enemy  at 
tacked  me  fiercely,  advancing  with  great  determination  almost 
to  my  very  line,  notwithstanding  a  large  portion  of  the  ground 
over  which  he  was  advancing  was  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire  of 
canister  from  both  of  my  batteries.  I  then  directed  a  general 
advance  of  my  whole  line,  bringing  up  the  reserve  regiments  to 
occupy  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

On  our  advance  the  enemy  commenced  retiring,  but  in  good 
order.  I  could  not  follow  up  this  advantage  to  any  great  ex 
tent,  as  the  enemy  wero  advancing  on  our  left,  General  Mc- 
Cook's  right  having  been  driven  back  some  distance,  but  direct 
ed  the  fire  of  my  artillery  across  the  valley  on  this  advance  of 
the  enemy,  forcing  it  to  retire,  thus  very  much  relieving  General 
McCook.  This  ended  the  operations  of  the  day,  it  being  dark, 
and  the  enemy  having  retired  from  the  field. 

I  cannot  speak  with  too  much  praise  of  the  good  conduct  of 
the  officers  and  men  of  my  whole  division,  all  of  whom  were  en 
gaged.  The  new  troops  vied  with  the  old  troops  of  the  division 
in  their  coolness  and  steadiness. 

My  brigade  commanders?,  Colonels  Greusel,    Dan.    McCook, 


IN    THE    WEST.  87 

and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Laibold,  behaved  with   great   gallantry, 
leading  their  troops  at  all  times. 

Neither  can  I  speak  too  highly  of  Captains  Hescock  and 
Barrett,  and  the  officers  and  .men  of  their  batteries. 

I  respectfully  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  General  command 
ing  the  excellent  conduct  of  Surgeon  Griffiths,  medical  director 
of  the  division,  who  was  untiring  in  his  care  for  the  wounded 
on  all  parts  of  the  field;  also  the  following  officers  of  my  staff: 
Captain  Beck,  Aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant  George  Lee,  Acting 
Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Lieutenant  Van  Pelt,  Division 
Commissary,  and  Lieutenants  Denning  and  Burton,  for  then- 
activity  in  bearing  orders,  and  other  valuable  assistance  ren 
dered  me  during  the  day. 

The  total  casualties  in  my  division  were  as  follows: 

Killed,  44;  wounded,  274;  missing,  12.     Total,  330. 

I  inclose  herewith  a  list  of  same,  giving  names,  rank,  com 
pany  and  regiment. 

The  report  is  also  accompanied  by  the  reports  of  brigade 
and  battery  commanders. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  II.  SHERIDAN, 
Brigadier- General  Commanding. 
CAPTAIN  J.  EDWARD  STAGEY, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Third  Corps. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AFTER  THE  BATTLE CONFEDERATE  RETREAT A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE 

"WE   WILL   BURY   YOUR  DEAD;  MOVE   ON" SWEEPING 

THE  STATE. 

When  our  troops  lay  down  to  rest  after  the  fatigue  and  ex- 
cUement  of  the  day  we  were  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the 
results  of  the  battle.  We  were  bivouacked  near  our  starting 
point  of  the  morning,  and  most  of  us  lay  in  a  dry  creek  bottom, 
or  along  the  fence  corners,  resting  on  our  arms,  horses  only 
partially  unsaddled,  and  we  fully  expected  to  renew  the  strug 
gle  at  daylight.  The  rumbling  clank  of  artillery  wheels,  the 
tramp  of  infantry,  the  click  of  bayonets  at  the  stacking  of  arms 
— all  told  of  movements  which  we  could  only  guess  meant 
maneuvering  for  position  or  guarding  against  surprise,  and 
therefore  when  daylight  came  and  found  us  ready,  but  no  tiring, 
we  began  to  think  perhaps  a  victory  had  been  won.  Moving 
cautiously  forward  we  were  soon  upon  tin-  Imttlr-fu'ld,  but  no 
enemy  in  sight,  except  the  stark  and  stiff  unburied  dead,  side  by 


IN    THE    WEST.  89 

side  with  our  own  heroes,  and  we  could  not  refrain  from  remark 
ing  if  our  forces  had  been  all  engaged  this    dead  line  would  not 

have  been  so  near  nor  the  deaths  so  divided. 

But  what  desecration.  These  walnut  groves,  fit  haunts  for 
childhood's  sports — cut,  torn,  marred  by  war's  grim  ravages. 
Heaps  of  mangled  flesh  and  rags  steel  the  hearts  of  men  and 
rob  them  of  their  humanity.  Did  there  ever  such  another 
nutting  party  as  this  crack  and  pick  beneath  these  grand  old 
walnut  trees  V  Bridles  thrown  over  the  arm,  horses  nibbling  at 
the  smoke  and  dust  begrimed  blue  grass,  hogs  rooting  among 
the  leaves,  nuts  and  dead  soldiers;  and,  kneeling  here  and  there, 
bron/ed  cavalrymen  cracking  walnuts  with  all  the  relish  of 
truant  school  boys.  This  is  no  exaggerated  picture. 

Soon  we  move  on  and  find  our  approach  to  the  clear  waters 
of  Chaplin  creek  undisputed,  and  horses  and  men  dash  into  the 
first  clear  water  they  have  drunk  in  a  week.  Then  we  were  or 
dered  to  move  on  and  find  the  enemy.  Pushing  forward  more* 
rapidly  we  soon  came  up  with  their  rear  guard  on  the  road  to 
Harrodsburg  and  were  again  face  to  face  with  sharpshooters, 
but  we  were  in  no  humor  to  lose  time  with  them,  and  moving 
forward  rapidly  dislodged  them  with  a  volley  and  charge  straight 
into  a  heavy  body  of  infantry.  Retiring  and  re-forming,  dis 
mounted,  we  were  rapidly  pushing  forward  to  show  them  we 
were  determined  to  fight,  even  against  odds,  when  a  bugle  sound 
of  "parley"  was  heard  coming  from  the  enemy's  side,  which  we 
mistook  for  a  charge,  and  were  getting  into  position  to  receive 
them,  when  we  discovered  a  white  flag  and  a  few  mounted  men 
approaching  us.  Halting,  and  demanding  a  halt,  officers  from 
both  sides  stepped  forward,  when  it  was  found  the  enemy  desir- 


90  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

ed  a  cessation  of  hostilities  and  time  to  bury  their  dead.  Word 
was  sent  back  to  our  general  commanding,  who  immediately 
sent  word  to  the  Confederates,  "We  will  bury  your  dead. 
Move  on." 

They  moved,  and  we  were  soon  in  hot  pursuit  again,  but 
were  ordered  back  to  bivouac  for  the  night  near  Chaplin  creek. 
The  smoke  of  battle  had  drawn  together  the  lowering  clouds, 
and  all  night  we  sat  or  reclined  as  best  we  could  in  mud  and 
rain,  with  the  windows  of  heaven  open  and  a  very  deluge 
drenching  us  through  and  through. 

In  the  morning,  after  pouring  the  water  out  of  our  cavalry 
boots,  which  we  had  not  removed,  and  pouring  down  our  throats 
a  pint  cup  of  boiling  hot  raw  coffee,  we  took  to  the  road  and 
soon  found  evidences  of  a  hasty  retreat  of  Bragg' s  whole 
army,  and 'we  went  galloping  on  through  Harrodsburg,  Lancas 
ter,  Crab  Orchard,  Wildcat,  and  nearly  to  Cumberland  Gap — 
^consuming  about  two  days  in  our  wild  chase,  and  capturing  a 
large  number  of  prisoners,  when  we  returned  to  Crab  Orchard 
to  intercept  John  Morgan  with  his  raiders,  whom  we  chased  for 
fifty-six  hours  with  only  six  hours'  sleep,  driving  him  out 
of  Kentucky. 

Kentucky  was  now  well  rid  of  all  regular  organized  troops 
of  the  enemy,  and  for  two  months  our  regiment  enjoyed  the 
cream  of  soldier  life;  having  our  tents  and  camp  equipage,  well 
fed,  and  only  moderate  scouting  duties  to  perform.  Quartered 
near  the  pleasant  towns  of  Lebanon,  New  Market,  New  Haven 
and  Nicholasville,  with  one  battalion  detached  to  the  Louisville 
&  Nashville  road,  where  they  occasionally  suffered  from  the 
ubiquitous  John  Morgan,  who  occasionally  dashed  upon  them 


IN    THE    WEST.  91 

and  on  one  occasion  bandied  them  pretty  roughly,  the  battalion 
losing  a  part  of  their  forces  by  capture  (an  account  of  which 
will  be  found  further  on),  but  the  main  part  of  the  regiment 
continued  in  camp  near  Nicholas ville,  scouting  a  little,  but 
mainly  occupying  their  time  in  recruiting  their  horses  and  get 
ting  ready  for  the  next  move,  which  soon  came  in  the  form  of  a 
raid  that  was  to  eclipse  all  former  efforts  of  the  regiment,  and 
for  daring,  combined  with  long  continued  hardships,  is  destined 
to  take  high  rank  as  a  successful  cavalry  raid,  when  future  his 
torians  shall  read  up  the  events  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 

While  the  first  and  third  battalions  were  doing  general 
scouting  duty  through  Kentucky,  from  Lebanon  to  Nicholas ville 
and  on,  during  the  Carter  raid,  the  second  battalion,  under 
Major  Frank  Dickey,  was  operating  against  John  Morgan  and 
other  marauders  along  the  line  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville 
railroad.  After  camping  a  few  days  at  Mumfordsville  they 
marched  to  Glasgow  and  with  an  infantry  brigade  went  to  Gal- 
latin,  Tennessee,  where  they  remained,  under  General  Reynolds, 
scouting  about  until  the  20th  of  December,  when  they  started 
back  towards  Mumfordsville,  and  at  Glasgow  met  some  of 
Morgan's  men,  and  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  them.  Company 
C,  being  rear  guard,  had  no  knowledge  of  what  had  occurred, 
and  marched  into  town  after  dark,  and  found  they  were  getting 
mixed  up  with  the  enemy;  could  see  them  in  every  street. 
Hailing  a  citizen,  they  inquired  which  way  the  command  had 
gone. 

"Which  command  ?" 

''Second  Michigan  Cavalry." 

"They  took  that  road,  and  you'd  better  be  getting  out 
lively,  for  there's  Morgan's  men  over  there." 


92  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

They  were  not  slow  in  taking  the  advice,  and  on  their  way 
out  of  the  town  they  captured  two  prisoners,  overtaking  the 
command  after  a  brisk  march  of  three  or  four  miles.  The  bat 
talion  lost  five  or  six  men  captured,  and  one  wounded. 

On  arriving  at  Cave  City,  Major  Dickey  reported  to  Col 
onel  Stokes,  in  command  of  a  regiment  of  mounted  infantry. 
Major  Dickey  said,  "I  am  ordered  by  General  Reynolds  to 
report  to  General  Hobson,  at  Mumfordsville,  and  to  him  I  am 
going,  but  I  would  like  to  feed  my  horses,  for  we  have  rode  all 
day  and»have  had  several  brushes  with  Morgan  and  we  are  not 
in  good  shape  to  ride  all  night.  'John  Morgan  is  coming  and  I 
would  like  to  have  you  guard  the  road  while  I  feed." 

"O,  you're  scared.  John  Morgan  ain't  Avithin  twenty  miles 
of  you.  I  wish  he  would  come,  we've  been  aching  for  a  chance 
to  wipe  him  out." 

Of  course,  Major  Dickey  was  mad,  but  he  smothered  his 
wrath  for  the  time,  merely  remarking,  "I  hope  you  may  have  a 
chance." 

It  came,  much  sooner  than  anticipated,  for  the  horses  had 
scarcely  begun  to  eat,  when  a  shot  was  heard,  then  another,  then 
several — a  volley,  a  rushing  sound,  and  through  the  feeding 
grounds  of  the  Second,  came  the  whole  of  Colonel  Stokes's  com 
mand,  half-saddled,  half-dressed,  but  thoroughly  demoralized. 
They  had  abandoned  their  tents  and  camp  equipage  and  were" 
fleeing  for  their  lives.  One  company  turned  out,  dismounted, 
from  the  Major's  little  command  of  about  175  men,  fired  a  vol 
ley  and  the  enemy  stopped.  There  were  probably  not  more 
than  an  advance  guard  of  50  or  100  men,  and  they  retired  for 
their  command  to  cmm-  up. 


IN    THE    WEST.  93 

Colonul  Stokes,  with  his  terrible  annihilators,  beat  Major 
Dickey  into  Mumfordsville  four  hours,  the  latter  reaching  there 
about  daylight,  after  nearly  an  all  night's  march. 

Reporting  to  General  Hobson,  he  found  that  a  report  had 
preceded  him  that  the  battalion  had  all  been  captured.  One  of 
the  first  to  congratulate  him  on  his  escape  was  Colonel  Stokes. 

"Ah,"  says  the  major,  "who's  scared  noic?"  and  notwith 
standing  the  difference  in  rank,  the  Major  proceeded  to  dress 
the  Colonel  down  in  fine  style,  much  to  the  amusement  of  Gen- 
eial  Hobson. 

This  was  "Christmas,"  and  the  boxes  from  home  were  just 
in  time,  and  were  duly  shared  among  the  comrades. 

Next  day  the  battalion  was  sent  to  Bacon  creek  to  notify 
the  command  there. 

Men  of  greater  military  experience  than  Major  Dickey 
have  been  surrounded,  and  therefore;  it  was  no  discredit  to  him- 
that  he  should  have  fallen  into  a  trap.  But  he  fought  his  way 
out  with  the  command,  losing  about  40  men  by  capture,  includ 
ing  Captain  Schuyler  and  Lieutenant  McCormick.  These  men 
were  stripped  of  outer  clothing,  watches,  money  and  pocket- 
knives,  and  next  day  were  parolled,  after  marching  them  to 
Elizabethtown,  and  treated  about  as  might  have  been  expected 
from  some  mving  band  of  Indians. 

Major  Dickey  retired  to  Mumfordsville  and  soon  after  join 
ed  the  regiment  in  Tennessee. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CARTER'S  RAID — 750  MILES    IN   TWENTY  DAYS — MOUNTAIN    PATHS 

AMONG  THE  CLOUDS — CAPTURING    FORTS BURNING    BRIDGES. 

December  20,  1862:  The  mild  winter  thus  far  had  given 
us  a  grand  opportunity  to  lide  about  the  pleasant  section  of 
country  surrounding  Nicholasville,  Kentucky,  and  become  ac 
quainted  with  the  hospitable  people  (generally)  of  the  village 
and  neighborhood.  Our  comfortable  quarters  had  become 
something  like  home  to  us.  Railway  communication  via  the 
Kentucky  Central  brought  news  from  the  North,  and  some'  had 
begun  to  indulge  in  visions  of  Christmas,  when  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1862,  we  set  out  with  ten  days'  rations  of  coffee, 
sugar,  hard  bread  and  bacon,  with  instructions  to  leave  behind 
everything  except  arms,  blankets  and  rations.  A  degree  of  mys 
tery  surrounded  our  movements  leading  us  to  surmise  that  our 
ten  days  would  probably  be  a  score  of  very  hard  marching— 
where,  we  knew  not,  questioned  not,  nor  cared. 

At  Mckeesville,  Jackson   county,  on    the   second   day  out, 
General  Samuel  P.  Carter  (Admiral  Carter)    assumed   command 


IX    THE    WEST.  95 

of  the  expedition,  which  consisted  of  two  battalions  of  the 
second  Michigan  cavalry,  one  battalion  of  the  seventh  Ohio  and 
the  ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  a  small  brigade  it  is  true,  but 
they  were  tried  men,  well  mounted,  well  armed  and  thoroughly 
disciplined. 

Pack  mules  were  loaded  with  provisions — the  wagons 
turned  back  and  we  cut  loose  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  to 
march,  and  trust  to  a  very  poor  country  for  the  corn  and  fodder 
that  must  keep  our  horses  on  their  feet  while  they  trod  the 
rough  by-roads  and  mountain  paths  of  that  wild  country. 

Bragg  had  preceded  us  through  that  portion  of  Kentucky 
two  months  before  and  there  was  little  left  for  us  or  our  ani 
mals.  Still  we  found  a  little  and  followed  our  guides  up  and 
over  mountains,  through  torrents;  crossing  the  head  waters  of 
the  Cumberland  river  and  camping  late  at  night  where  there 
was  the  most  corn  to  be  had. 

What  a  Christmas  was  that!  Winding  along  a  mountain 
road  that  sometimes  described  a  semicircle  halfway  between 
summit  and  base.  Looking  backward  or  forward  the  entire  com 
mand  could  be  seen  as  it  wound  along  the  mountain  side,  the 
blue  cavalry  overcoats  and  the  dark  colored  horses,  marching  by 
twos,  gave  the  appearance  of  a  long  serpent  creeping  steadily 
onward  until  it  disappears  around  a  sharp  curve  in  the  moun 
tain  road. 

The  few  Kentuckians  remaining  at  home  were  out,  with 
their  sisters  or  sweethearts  mounted  up  behind  on  their  gentle 
fillies  and  mules,  bound  for  the  Christmas  gatherings.  But  we 
plodded  along,  occasionally  passing  over  higher  mountains,  along 
whose  crest  the  gathering  mists  beat  upon  us  in  drifting  sheets, 


90  HUNDRED     JtATTLi:S 

and  we  began  to  realize  what  it  was  to  be  up  among  the  clouds. 
At  night  these  mists  became  colder  and  as  we  opened  our  eyes 
in  the  morning  they  were  greeted  by  a  mantle  of  snow,  which 
soon  disappeared,  however,  when  the  sun  came,  and  we  wended 
our  way  on  to  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  range.  Here  was  a 
very  sharp  climb  of  nearly  a  mile,  with  no  roads  better  than  a 
narrow,  steep  path,  along  which  the  men,  Dismounted,  found  the 
horses  had  quite  enough  to  do  to  clamber  alone  without  carrying 
a  man  on  their  backs.  To  have  taken  an  ambulance  or  a  piece 
of  artillery  would  have  been  an  impossibility.  And  when  we 
reached  that  summit,  at  Crank's  Gap,  -panting  and  wet  with 
perspiration,  what  a  feeling  of  triumph  possessed  us  as  we  ca.st 
our  eyes  back  over  the  grand  panorama  of  nature  glowing  with 
the  setting  sun's  rays,  bathed  in  the  soft,  hazy  atmosphere  of  a 
Kentucky  Christinas  time.  And  again,  as  we  crossed  to  the 
southeastern  slope  of  the  mountain  (we  were  thirty-five  miles 
northeast  of  Cumberland  Gap)  and  halted  for  the  setting  sun  to 
hasten  on  to  rest,  what  a  glorious  sight  burst  upon  our  view! 
Standing  a  little  in  front,  nearest  the  edge  of  the  mountain, 
down  whose  side  we  knew  we  must  soon  go,  stood  General  Car 
ter,  Colonel  Campbell,  Colonel  Walker  and  the  staffs  of  Gen 
eral  Carter  and  Colonel  Campbell.  Behind  them  a  thousand 
determined  men  who  had  taken  their  lives  in  their  hands  and 
set  out  to  follow  their  leaders  whithersoever  they  went. 
In  front — ah!  how  language  fails  to  describe  the  grandeur  of 
that  scene,  made  up  of  valleys  and  mountains,  one  range  after 
another;  fading  in  the  distance  as  wave  succeeding  wave  of 
ocean  fades  away  into  and  forms  a  part  of  the  blue  ethereal 
dome  of  heaven,  leaving  no  line  to  trace  the  division  where 


IN    THE    WEST.  97 

earth  leaves  off  and  air  begins;  across  the  rugged  Blue  Ridge 
mountains  of  southwestern  Virginia;  over  the  dimly  outlined 
ranges  of  northeastern  Tennessee,  and  on  to  the  nearly  invisi 
ble  Smoky  range  of  North  Carolina,  twenty  leagues  away — and 
all  this  reflecting  the  glow  of  the  setting  sun! 

Not  a  sound  disturbed  the  ear,  save  that  of  a  single  ax, 
that  fell  in  regular  beats  far  down  the  mountain  side  at  our 
feet.  Not  even  a  jingling  spur  or  saber  moved,  and  silence, 
almost  oppressive,  fell,  as  the  light  of  day  went  out,  and  we 
moved,  with  whispered  words  of  command,  down  into  the 
enemy's  country,  where  it  was  known  Humphrey  Marshall,  with 
a  division  of  rebel  cavalry,  was  scouting  about,  occupying  a 
country  through  which  neither  infantry  nor  artillery  could  be 
used. 

As  we  moved  down  the  rugged  path,  sliding,  stumbling 
along  in  the  darkness  over  rocks  and  logs  as  best  we  could,  lead 
ing  our  horses,  a  staff  officer  Avas  placed  by  the  side  of  the  mov 
ing  column  and  a  pass-word  was  given  out.  "If  you  are 
asked  what  command,  say  Nixon's  Georgia  Cavalry  and  Mack- 
lin's  Tennessee,"  and  as  such  we  passed  near  Jonesville,  Vir 
ginia,  in  our  general  southeast  course,  meeting  occasional  dwellers 
of  that  wild  country,  but  meeting  no  serious  resistance  during 
the  first  night,  as,  hour  after  hour,  we  pressed  on  at  a  sharp 
walk,  and  an  occasional  trot  in  the  rear,  to  close  up  the  column. 
Once  a  shot  was  heard  in  advance  and  the  column  halted  long 
enough  to  ascertain  the  cause. 

The  night  was  quite  cold,  and  before  the  officers  were  aware 
of  it  the  men  had  set  fire  to  the  corners  of  rail  fences  all  along 
the  road  and  we  moved  on  with  a  bright  track  marking  our 


98  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

course.  This  drew  out  the  few  scattering  inhabitants  and  com 
pelled  a  large  amount  of  lying  on  our  part  to  throw  them  off 
the  track,  for  we  had  every  reason  to  believe,  every  inhabitant 
would  turn  bushwhacker  if  they  knew  the  truth. 

According  to  our  yarns,  the  number  of  Yankees  we  had 
slain  and  captured  was  something  marvelous.  Our  clothing 
was  thus  explained,  and  we  passed  on  uninterrupted,  finding 
good  roads  and  few  occasions  for  halting. 

In  the  morning  we  came  upon  good  corn-fields  and  allowed 
the  horses  to  feed  and  refresh  for  an  hour,  when  we  were  again 
in  the  saddle,  and  marched  all  day  with  scarcely  a  halt,  fording 
the  Clinch  river  and  passing  over  the  Blue  Ridge  by  a  good 
wagon  road,  and  on  into  the  night. 

Who  can  forget  the  half  sleeping,  half  waking  horrors  of 
that  weary  second  all  night's  march,  as  we  staggered,  now  into 
the  fence  corners,  now  against  a  tree?  No  moon,  nor  yet  a  star, 
to  light  our  path.  Darkness,  pitchy  darkness,  enshrouding  us, 
it  was  next  to  impossible  to  keep  our  command  together.  CTf  ten 
a  sleeping  man  halts  and  all  the  command  in  his  rear  must  halt 
until  those  in  front,  who  were  able  to  keep  awake  came  back  to 
arouse  them,  and  the  command  again  moves  on.  Officers,  feeling 
the  responsibility  of  their  positions,  rode  back  and  forth  along 
their  commands,  crowding  back  into  the  road  the  straggling 
men  and  keeping  themselves  awake  by  constant  exertion.  Dur 
ing  the  night  our  command  came  tom  a  road  where  two  roads 
became  one,  and  here  our  expedition  came  near  having  an 
encounter  that  might  have  proved  disastrous. 

A    scouting   party    from   Humphrey    Marshall's    command 
marched  into   our   column  near  our  center  and  marched  some 


IN    THE    WEST.  99 

distance  before  either  was  aware  of  the  presence  of  the  other. 
A  few  words  passed  between  our  men  and  theirs,  which  resulted 
in  a  mutual  discavery  and  an  exchange  of  shots  at  short  range. 
One  of   our  men  fell  dead  and  another  wounded.     What  the 
results  of  our  shots  were  we  never  knew,  but  we  immediately 
separated,  and  they  were  apparently  as  glad  to  get  away  from  us 
as  we  were  from  them.     But  this  aroused  our  men;  there  was 
no  more  sleeping  that  night  and  our  column  was  well  closed  up. 
And  so,  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  December,  1862,  we 
began  to  move  more  cautiously,  and   about  ten  o'clock  a  few 
companies,  dismounted,  were  preparing  to  move  forward  to  the 
crest  of  a  hill  over-looking  the  little  station  of  Zollicoffer,  wehn 
a   solitary   horseman    came    marching   up    the   road,    leisurely 
toward  us.     A   few   of   our  officers   rode   forward  quietly,  and 
after  saluting,  the  horseman  was  found  to  be  the  major  in  com 
mand  of  the  post.     Our  skirmishers  were  advanced  to  the  crest 
of   the  hill  and   halted  under  cover  of  a  fence  and  the  officer 
was  told  it  was  useless  for  the  garrison  to  resist.     The  bewilder 
ed  major,  out  for  a  morning  ride,  seemed   unable  to  reply,  but 
without  waiting  for  his  decision  a  single  staff  officer  was  sent 
forward,  with  two  mounted  men  in  advance,  and  the  three  rode 
across  the  bridge  at  a  walk,,  receiving  a  salute  from  the  rebel 
guard  stationed  there,  and  passed  on  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
guard,  near  the  railroad  bridge  and  depot,  then  being  formed  into 
line  to  receive  some  one,  they  knew  not  whom.     Our  staff  officer 
rode  up,  was  saluted  by  the  entire  guard  and  their  commander, 
when  the  staff    officer  coolly  ordered  "Order   arms,"    "ground 
arms,"  backward  march,"  and  then  informed  the  astonished  officer 


100  HUNDRED    HA.TTLE8 

of  the  guard  that  "along  the  crest  of  that  hill  a  thousand  rifles 
cover  you.  You  are  prisoners.  Stand  where  you  are  until  par- 
oiled." 

The  movement  was  watched  by  General  Carter,  and  the 
command  marched  in  before  there  was  time  to  reflect,  and  not  a 
shot  was  fired. 

Then  commenced   the  work  of  destruction  and  the  entire 
command  realized  for  the  first  that  we  were  destroying  railroad 
communications  between  Richmond  and  Bragg  at  Murfreesboro. 
Here  was  the  Holston  river,  spanned  by  a  long   wooden 
trestle  bridge.     Canteens  of  turpentine  were  emptied  upon  the 
timbers,   the  match  applied,  flames   leaped  across  the  network 
like  flashes  of  lightning,  and  while  the  prisoners  were  being  par- 
oiled  the  bridge  fell  with   a  crash  upon   the  water  and  rocks 
below.     The  depot,  filled  with  supplies,  and  the  barracks  met  the 
same  fate,  while  a  portion  of  the  command  pushed  on  to  Watau- 
ga.     Here  the  enemy  had  received  an  intimation  of    our  coming 
and  were  ready  to  receive  us;   but  it  was  useless.     Our  revolv- 
ino-  rifles  were  too   much  for  them,  and  with  a  dash  it   was  soon 
captured,  though  not  without  some  loss  on  both  sides.     Here  was 
another  bridge,  and  while  the  flames  leaped  and  crackled,  a  loco 
motive  which  we  had   captured,  was   run  upon   the   tottering 
structure  and  with  a  loud  crash  our  work  was  proclaimed  "fin 
ished;"  whether  we  got  away  alive  or  should  be  captured  was  a 
question    of     considerable    doubt    in    our    minds.     These    two 
bridges,  ten  miles  apart,  destroyed,  told  their  own  tale  of  disas 
ter  to  any  reinforcements  attempting  to  move  hurriedly  through 
that  great  railway  thoroughfare'. 

Soon  after  dark  the  two   portions   of   our   command  were 


IN    THE    WEST.  101 

concentrated,  and  after  feeding  the  horses  and  resting  them  an 
hour  we  were  again,  at  midnight,  mounted  and  away  through 
unfrequented  roads,  in  the  darkness  that,  if  not  Egyptian,  was 
at  least  too  black  for  a  black  horse  to  follow  a  white  one  even, 
except  bv  sound  or  smell.  This  was  now  the  third  night  of  the 
third  day  that  we  had  marched  .  without  sleep.  It  was  a 
question  of  life  or  death;  of  physical  endurance  rather  than 
strategy.  Could  we  hold  out  ?  Could  we  keep  awake  ?  We 
could,  and  we  would.  But  this  darkness.  This  unbeaten  path. 
No  broad  highway  for  us  to-night.  He  must  be  a  faithful  guide, 
indeed,  that  brings  us  through  this  thicket.  Then  we  are  told 
that  General  Carter,  himself,  is  familiar  with  this  country. 

"Well,  that's  a  comfort,  anyhow,"  says  one. 

"I'll  bet  my  old  shirt  General  Carter  never  rode  through 
these  woods  of  a  dark  night  before  in  his  life,"  says  another. 

"Look  out!"  and  heads  are  ducked  just  in  time  to  receive 
the  full  benefit  of  a  swinging  limb,  square  in  the  face. 

This  torment  was  continued  with  little  interuption  until 
near  morning,  when  we  stopped  to  breathe  and  rest  our  jaded 
horses.  When  daylight  came  we  found  we  were  in  a  small,  rich 
valley,  with  a  good  cornfield  near  at  hand.  The  horses  were  fed 
and  groomed,  and  again  we  pushed  rapidly  forward.  At 
Estellville  our  retreat  was  intercepted  by  a  force  of  the  enemy 
sent  out  in  search  of  us,  but  we  drove  them  off  after  a  sharp 
little  skirmish,  and  again  took  the  best  road  we  could  find, 
pushing  on  with  a  determination  not  to  be  diverted  by  any 
ordinary  force  of  scouts.  But  the  numerous  mountain  passes 
afforded  a  splendid  opportunity  for  bushwhackers,  who  kept  up 
a  constant  guerrilla  warfare  on  our  flanks,  in  our  rear  and  in 


102  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

our  front.     At  our  crossing  of  the  Clinch  river  the  shoalest  place 
was  up  to  our  horses'  sides;  the   current  swift   and  the  bottom 
filled  with  loose  stones.     It  was  getting   quite   dark  and   guer 
rillas  fired  upon  us  from  every  tree  and  hill,  but  our  horses    and 
men  had  just  been  well  fed,  and  with    a  desperation    that  knew 
no  checking  we  pushed  on  across  safely,  and   entered   upon   our 
fourth  all  night  march.     But  we  now  had  a  good  road,  and  had 
caught  an  hour  or  two  of  sleep  in  the  morning,  so  we  hal  no  de 
lays  of  a  serious  nature,  but  kept  steadily  on,  all  night   and  all 
day;  though  our  march  by  day  was  one  of  continued   annoyance 
from  long  range  Kentucky  rifles.     At  Jonesville  we   were   fired 
upon    from    the   houses,    overtaken    by  Marshall's  scouts,    and 
nothing  but  our  haste  saved  the  village  from  fire  and  destruction. 
Soon  after  dark,  however,  we  reached  the   foot    of  the  Cumber 
land   mountain   again,  which  we  had  left   five   days  before,  and 
now  as  the  fifth  night  began  to  darken  and  we   found   our  way 
over  the  mountain  unobstructed  we  began  to  breathe  more  freely 
and  talk  of  rest,  which  we  all   settled   down    to,    at  about   ten 
o'clock,  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  mountain,  and  so  secure  did 
we  feel  that   little   attention   was  paid  to   pickets  or   outposts, 
though  they  were  doubtless  posted.     But  whether  they  slept  on 
their  posts  or  not  no  one  ever  asked  or  cared.     But  as  the  night 
was  spent  by  most  of  the  command  in   cooking  corn   cakes   and 
coffee  there  were  always  enough  awake   to  prevent    a  surprise, 
and  those  whose  nerve  had  kept  them  in  the  saddle,  if  they   had 
one,  or  kept  them  up  with  the  command,  if    on  foot    (for   many 
had  lot-t  their  horses),  now  gave  away  to  tired  nature's  demands 
and  slept. 

During  the  3d  of  January  a  detail  of   men    went  in    search 


IN  THE  WEST.  103 

of  food  for  the  command,  for  we  had  lost  and  consumed  all  we 
had  taken  with  us  and  were  thankful  for  a  small  ration  of  corn 
meal,  burnt  corn  and  any  kind  of  coffee  we  could  get,  without 
questioning  as  to  its  ingredients.  The  few  loyal  women  of  the 
country  gathered  in  and  helped  cook  all  night.  On  the  4th  we 
reached  Colonel  Gilbert's,  and  received  rations  of  beef  and 
bacon.  Marching  by  the  most  direct  roads  through  Manchester 
we  reached  McKee's  on  the  7th,  where  we  had  sent  our  wagon 
trains.  Our  pack  mule  train  had  been  used  up  and  abandoned 
on  the  road,  and  our  men  whose  horses  had  given  out  carne  scat 
tering  into  McKee's  all  night.  From  thence  our  march  was 
cut  down  to  about  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  per  day,  through 
Richmond  and  back  to  Nicholasville,  where  most  of  the  com 
mand  went  into  camp,  on  the  9th  of  January. 

This  was  the  second  great  raid  of  the  war  that  terminated 
successfully,  and  we  only  learned  on  our  return  that  our  in 
structions  would  have  been,  if  hard  pushed,  to  break  into  squads 
and  scatter  through  to  North  Carolina,  or  any  where,  to  get  away. 
We  also  then  learned  that  while  we  were  burning  the  bridges 
and  destroying  the  railroad  in  East  Tennessee,  Rosecrans  was 
fighting  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  our  command  received 
from  him  highly  complimentary  orders  for  direct  service  to  his 
army  in  that  great  battle. 

The  following  were  the  orders  issued  in  connection  with  the 
Carter  raid : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  KENTUCKY, 
Lexington,  Ky.,  December  17,  1862. 
BRIGADIHR-GENKRAL   8.  P.  CARTER, 

United  States  Volunteers: 

GP:NERAL: — You     will     at    once   assume    command  of    the 


104  HUNDRED    HATTLES 

cavalry  brigade,  composed  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
cavalry  \  two  battalions  of  the  second  Michigan  volunteer  cav<ili'>/\ 
and  one  battalion  of  the  seventh  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry,  and  put 
it  in  complete  condition  for  a  long  scout. 

The  command  will  march  without  baggage,  or  supplies,  and 
will  take  only  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  to  each 
man,  two  axes  to  each  company,  one  extra  shoe,  and  spare 
nails  for  each  horse  and  the  necessary  tools  for  shoeing,  and 
such  cooking  utensils  as  are  indispensable  and  can  be  carried 
on  horseback. 

Respectfully,  your  Obedient  Servant, 

[Signed]  G.  GRANGER, 

Major-General  Commanding  Army  of  Kentucky. 

LEXINGTON,  KENTUCKY,  January  9,  1863. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  GORDON  GRANGER, 

Commanding  Army  of  Kentucky: 

GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  operations  of  the  expeditionary  force  to  East  Tennessee 
which  was  intrusted  to  my  command. 

Although  a  movement  on  East  Tennessee  was  proposed  as 
early  as  the  25th  of  November  last,  it  was  not  until  the  19th  of 
December  that  arrangements  were  completed  and  the  necessary 
orders  given  for  the  movement  of  the  troops.  It  was  hoped  that 
the  force  to  be  sent  on  this  hazardous  but  most  important  ex 
pedition  would  have  been  much  larger  than  that  which  the 
commander  of  the  department  felt  could  be  detached  for  such 
service  when  the  final  arrangements  were  made. 

My  original  design  was  to  have  divided  the  force  into  two 
columns  and  strike  the  East  Tennessee  &  Virginia  railroad  at 
two  points  at  the  same  time,  distant  100  miles  apart,  and,  by 
moving  towards  the  center,  have  destroyed  the  road  for  that 
distance;  but  on  the  junction  of  the  different  detachments  I 
found  that  the  number  was  too  small  to  risk  a  division  and  I 
was,  reluctantly,  compelled  to  keep  them  united,  or  within  easy 
supporting  distance  during  the  whole  of  my  operations. 


IX    THE    WEST.  105 

Having  given  orders  for  the  junction  of  the  forces — con 
sisting  of  two  battalions  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry, 
Colonel  Campbell,  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  Major 
Russell,  and  one  battalion  of  the  seventh  Ohio  cavalry,  Major 
Rainy — near  the  mouth  of  Goose  Creek,  Clay  county,  Kentucky, 
I  left  this  place  with  my  staff  on  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  ult. 
for  that  point.  By  your  order  Colonel  Charles  J.  Walker,  of 
the  tenth  Kentucky  cavalry,  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
cavalry  brigade. 

The  troops  were  ordered  to  move  without  baggage;,  with 
ten  days'  rations  and  100  rounds  of  ammunition,  but  as  it  was 
feared  some  difficulty  would  be  met  with  in  obtaining  forage,  a 
supply  train  was  ordered  to  proceed  some  sixty  miles  on  the 
route  and  there  transfer  forage  and  rations  to  a  train  of  pack 
mules. 

On  the  22d  ult.  I  came  up  with  the  two  battalions  of 
the  second  Michigan  and  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  at  McKee, 
Jackson  county,  Kentucky,  where  we  were  detained  a  day  wait 
ing  for  the  supply  train  and  pack  saddles.  On  the  25th  ult. 
we  effected  a  junction  with  the  remainder  of  the  troops  (first 
battalion,  seventh  Ohio  cavalry),  at  Heard's,  on  Goose  creek.  I 
then  found,  to  my  surprise,  that  the  Avhole  force  amounted  to 
only  about  980  men,  and  of  that  number  a  considerable  portion 
were  in  the  field  for  the  first  time.  The  marches,  owing  to  the 
roughness  and  narrowness  of  the  roads  (being  merely  bridle 
paths  along  the  banks  of  creeks,  and  over  steep  and  rugged  moun 
tains),  were  of  necessity  slow  and  tedious,  and  their  length  had 
to  be  governed  by  the  distance  to  the  several  points  at  which  for 
age  could  be  obtained.  It  was  not  until  about  meridian  of  the 
28th  that  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  mountain  (on 
the  north  side),  opposite  Crank's  Gap,  twelve  miles  to  the  south 
and  east  of  Harlan  Court  House.  The  horses  were  fed,  a  day's 
forage  prepared  and  the  pack  train  sent  back  under  charge  of  a 
detachment  of  the  Kentucky  State  Guard.  A  little  before  sunset 
we  reached  the  summit  of  the  Cumberland  mountain  and  had 
the  field  of  our  operations  with  its  mountain*  and  valleys  spread 


106  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

out  before  us.  I  then  held  a  consultation  with  the  officers  of 
the  command  and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  that  the  force 
was  entirely  too  small  to  venture  on  a  division  according  to  the 
original  plan.  This  decision  seemed  to  be  the  more  necessary 
from  the  news  we  had  received,  through  East  Tennessee  re 
fugees,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  relative  to  the  disposition  of 
the  rebel  forces  along  the  line  of  the  railroad. 

Soon  after  dark  the  advance  commenced  the  descent  of 
the  mountain,  hoping  to  make  a  long  inarch  before  sunrise,  but 
owing  to  the  steepness,  narrowness  and  roughness  of  the  way, 
the  rear  column  did  not  reach  the  foot  of  the  mountain  until 
10  P.  M.  having  consumed  four  hours  in  the  descent.  I  was  told 
there  were  some  400  rebel  cavalry  in  the  vicinity  of  Jonesville, 
five  miles  distant,  and  as  it  was  important  to  move  through  Lee 
county,  Virginia,  without  exciting  suspicion,  I  moved  down 
Cane  Creek,  passing  through  a  gap  in  Poor  valley  ridge,  and 
crossed  Powell's  valley,  about  five  miles  east  of  Jonesville.  On 
leaving  the  valley  road  our  guides  wrere  at  fault  and  valuable 
time  was  lost  in  finding  the  way.  The  march  was  continued 
through  the  night,  and  at  daylight  we  reached  the  top  of  Wal- 
len's  ridge,  twenty-two  miles  distant  from  the  foot  of  Cumber 
land  mountain,  and  halted  to  feed  the  horses.  Thus  far  we  had 
advanced  without  giving  any  alarm,  or  even  exciting  any  sus 
picion  as  to  our  character.  The  village  of  Stickley  ville  Jay  im 
mediately  below  us  and  but  for  the  imprudence  of  some  of  the 
officers,  in  allowing  the  men  to  visit  the  village,  wre  could  have 
passed  on  as  rebel  cavalry.  A  number  of  rebel  soldiers,  belong 
ing  to  Trigg's  battalion,  came  within  our  lines,  supposing  we 
were  their  friends,  and  were  captured. 

In  a  short  time  we  wrere  again  in  the  saddle,  passed  through 
Stickleyville,  across  Powell's  mountain,  and  through  Pattons- 
ville.  Before  sunset  we  crossed  Clinch  river,  twelve  miles  from 
Estellville,  Scott  county,  Virginia,  and  halted  for  a  couple  of 
hours  to  feed.  News  of  our  approach  had  gone  before  us,  but 
few  of  the  rebels  were  inclined  to  credit  it,  believing  it  im 
possible  that  a  government  force  would  venture  so  far  within 


IN  THE  WEST.  107 

their  territory.  Upon  arriving  at  Estellville,  at  10  r.  M.,  we 
were  told  that  a  considerable  rebel  force  was  in  possession  of 
Moccasin  Gap,  prepared  to  resist  our  passage.  I  could  not 
afford  to  lose  time.  The  Michigan  battalions  were  dismounted, 
and,  under  command  of  Colonel  Campbell,  a  portion  deployed 
and  moved  through  the  gap.  Being  unacquainted  with  the 
ground,  and  having  to  guard  against  an  ambuscade  in  this 
strong  pass,  which  could  have  been  held  by  a  small  force  against 
greatly  superior  numbers,  we  advanced  with  great  caution.  It 
was  midnight  before  the  rear  of  the  column  had  passed  through. 
The  enemy,  deterred  by  the  resolute  advance  of  our  brave  men, 
fled  toward  Kingsport,  East  Tennessee,  (as  I  afterwards 
learned),  without  firing  a  shot. 

A  rebel  lieutenant  and  several  soldiers,  with  their  arms,  were 
captured  on  the   south  side  of  the  gap  on  the  Blountville  road. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  night  we  moved  forward  as  rap 
idly  as  was  practicable,  over  unknown  roads,  picking  up  rebel 
soldiers  by  the   way.     Owing  to  the    darkness  of  the  night,  a 
portion  of  the  command  lost    their  way  and  became  separated 
from  the  main  body.     A  small  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  hovering 
about    our  rear,  killed  a  sergeant  of  the  second  Michigan  and 
captured  two  others  who  had  wandered  from  the  road.     At  day 
light,   on  the  morning  of  the  -30th  ult.  we  reached  the  town  of 
Blountville,    Sullivan    county,    East   Tennessee,    surprised   and 
took   possession    of   the   place,    captured    some    thirty    soldiers 
belonging    to  the  fourth  Kentucky  (rebel)  cavalry  and  parolled 
them.       We  were  here   informed   that   at    Bristol,  some    eight 
miles  distant,  there  was  a  large  amount  of  stores,  besides  the 
meat  of  a  considerable  number  of  hogs,  belonging  to  the   rebel 
authorities,  but  as  the  place  was  guarded,  according  to  the  best 
information  we  could  receive,  by  a  regiment  of  infantry,  under 
'Colonel  Stemp,  said  to  be  900  strong,  a  cavalry  force  under  Colo 
nel  Giltner  and  a  battery,  we  were  reluctantly  compelled  to  leave 
it  on  our  left  and  move  towards  the  railroad  bridge  at   Union, 
six  miles  from  Blountville.       I  accordingly  sent  forward  Colonel 
Campbell   with  a  portion  of   the    second   Michigan,    under  the 


108  HUNDRED  BATTLKS 

direction  of  Colonel  James  P.  T.  Carter,  of  the  second  East 
Tennessee  infantry,  toward  Union,  with  orders  to  take  the  place 
and  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Holston  river.  As 
soon  as  the  rest  of  the  troops,  which  got  separated  from  us  dur 
ing  the  night,  came  up,  I  moved  them  rapidly  forward  in  the 
same  direction.  When  we  reached  Union,  I  found  the  town  in 
our  possession  and  the  railroad  bridge,  a  fine  structure,  some 
600  feet  in  length,  slowly  burning.  The  rebel  force,  about  150 
strong,  consisting  of  two  corps  of  the  sixty-second  North  Car 
olina  troops,  under  command  of  Major  McDowell,  had  surren 
dered  without  resistance,  the  Major  himself  having  been  first 
captured  by  our  advance,  while  endeavoring  to  learn  if  there 
was  any  truth  in  our  reported  approach.  The  prisoners  were 
parolled  and  a  large  number  of  them  were,  that  afternoon,  on 
their  way  to  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  swearing  they 
would  never  be  exchanged.  Their  joy  at  being  captured  seem 
ed  to  be  unbounded. 

The  stores,  barracks,  tents,  a  large  number  of  arms  and 
equipments,  a  considerable  amount  of  salt,  nitre,  a  railroad  car, 
the  depot,  etc.,  etc.,  were  destroyed.  As  soon  as  the  work  of 
destruction  was  fairly  under  way,  I  dispatched  Colonel  Walker 
with  detachments  from  the  second  Michigan,  ninth  Pennsyl 
vania  and  seventh  Ohio  cavalry,  in  all  181  men,  the  whole  under 
guidance  of  Colonel  Carter,  toward  the  Watauga  bridge,  at  Car 
ter's  depot,  ten  miles  west  of  Union.  On  their  way,  they  captured 
a  locomotive  and  tender,  with  Colonel  Love,  of  the  sixty-second 
North  Carolina  troops,  who,  having  heard  of  the  approach  of 
the  Yankees,  had  started,  on  the  locomotive,  to  Union  to  ascer 
tain  the  truth  of  the  rumor.  On  reaching  the  station  about 
sunset,  they  found  the  enemy,  consisting  of  two  com 
panies  of  the  sixty-second  North  Carolina  troops,  esti~ 
mated  by  Colonel  Walker  at  nearly  200  men,  falling  into  line. 
Colonel  Walker  gallantly  attacked  them,  and  after  a  brief  but 
warm  resistance,  they  broke  and  tied  i<>  the  woods.  The  gallant 
Major  Raper,  of  the  sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  with  two  com 
panies  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  under  Captain 


IN    THE     WEST.  109 

Jones,  of  that  regiment,  made  a  dashing  charge  and  captured 
and  destroyed  many  of  their  number.  Our  loss  was  one  killed, 
one  mortally  and  two  slightly  wounded.  The  rebel  loss  was 
twelve  to  sixteen  killed.  Dr.  McMillan,  of  the  first  East  Tenn 
essee  infantry,  acting  brigade  surgeon,  reports  the  wounds  of 
thirteen,  several  of  which  were  mortal.  Owing  to  the  darkness 
of  the  night  it  was  impossible  to  learn  with  certainty  the  entire 
loss. 

The  railroad  bridge  across  the  Watauga  river,  some  300 
feet  in  length,  was  soon  in  flames  and  entirely  destroyed,  also  a 
large  number  of  arms  and  valuable  stores.  The  captured  loco 
motive  was  run  into  the  river  and  completely  demolished,  de 
stroying  in  its  passage  one  of  the  piers  of  the  bridge. 

The  men  and  horses  (especially  the  latter)  were  much  worn 
and  jaded  from  constant  travel  and  loss  of  rest.  The  alarm 
had  been  given.  The  rebels  had  the  road  open  to  Knoxville, 
and  could  move  up  a  strong  force  to  resist  us.  I  also  learned 
that  some  400  cavalry  and  four  guns,  under  Colonel  Folks,  were 
within  three  miles  of  us;  that  an  infantry  force  would  be  con 
centrated  at  Johnston's  depot,  six  miles  west  of  Carter's  station, 
by  daylight,  and  further,  that  Humphrey  Marshall,  who  was  at 
Abingdon,  was  moving  his  troops  to  occupy  the  passes  in  the 
mountains,  and  thus  cut  off  our  egress.  It  was  deemed  prudent, 
therefore,  to  return. 

We  left  Watauga  about  midnight,  and  after  a  hard  march 
reached  Kingsport,  at  the  mouth  of  the  north  fork  of  the  IIol- 
ston  river,  at  sunset  on  the  31st  ult.  After  feeding  and  resting 
a  short  time  and  issuing  a  ration  of  meat  to  the  men  we  were 
again  in  the  saddle.  We  passed  eight  miles  south  of  Rogers- 
ville  and  reached  Loony's  Gap,  on  Clinch  mountain,  late  in  the 
afternoon;  passed  through  without  opposition,  and  about  11 
p.  M.,  January  1st,  reached  a  place  on  the  edge  of  Hancock 
county,  Tennessee,  where  forage  could  be  procured,  and  biv 
ouacked  for  the  night.  This  was  the  first  night's  rest  we  had 
been  able  to  take  since  the  night  of  the  27th  ult.  The  command 
had  been  annoyed  during  the  day  and  night  by  bushwhackers, 


110  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

but  we  providentially  escaped  with  only  two  men  slightly  wound 
ed.  Soon  after  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  inst.  we  re 
sumed  our  march  toward  Jonesville,  Lee  Co.,  Virginia,  with  the 
intention  of  reaching  the  foot  of  Cumberland  mountain,  on  the 
Kentucky  side  before  we  halted.  Our  march  was  much  imped 
ed  during  the  day  by  bushwhackers,  who  constantly  annoyed 
our  front  and  rear.  Just  before  we  reached  Jonesville,  they 
endeavored  to  check  us,  by  occupying  the  hills  in  our  front  with 
two  companies  (supposed  to  be  Larimore's  and  Staley's),  but 
they  were  soon  driven  from  their  strong  position  by  the  skir 
mishers  of  the  second  Michigan.  We  reached  Jonesville  late  in 
the  afternoon,  but  before  the  rear  guard  had  passed,  it  was  at 
tacked  by  about  200  rebels.  The  rear  guard,  company  K,  second 
Michigan  cavalry,  reinforced  by  two  light  companies,  drove  the 
rebels  back  to  the  woods.  Several  of  them  were  killed,  one 
in  the  village  of  Jonesville.  Some  twenty  were  captured  dur 
ing  the  day.  We  sustained  no  loss.  From  the  prisoners  we 
learned  that  the  passes  in  Powell's  and  Clinch  mountains, 
through  which  we  marched  in  going  to  Union,  had  been  block 
aded  and  were  occupied  by  three  or  four  companies  of  infantry. 
[NOTE — The  force  encountered  at  Jonesville,  it  was  afterward 
learned,  was  that  of  General  Humphrey  Marshall,  and  numbered 
some  1,900  men.] 

We  reached  the  foot  of  Cumberland  mountain,  passing 
through  Crank's  Gap,  at  11  p.  M.  and  bivouacked,  men  and 
horses  completely  jaded  and  worn,  having  been  in  the  last  five 
days  and  seventeen  hours,  out  of  the  saddle  but  thirty  hours. 

On  the  5th  inst.  the  command  reached  Manchester,  Clay 
county,  Kentucky,  and  rested  on  the  day  following.  The 
march  was  resumed  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  and  on  the  8th  I 
received  your  order  directing  the  several  detachments  to  be  sent 
to  their  respective  camps.  After  reaching  Richmond,  on  the 
9th,  they  separated,  the  first  battalion  seventh  Ohio,  moving  on 
to  Winchester  and  the  two  battalions  of  the  second  Michigan 
and  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  to  Nicholasville. 

Notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  the  sever- 


IX    THE    WEST.  1 1  1 

ity  of  the  marches  and  the  scanty  supply  of  rations  for  no  incon 
siderable  portion  of  the  time,  both  officers  and  men  bore  their 
hardships  without  a  murmur  or  word  of  complaint.  They 
returned,  after  a  journey  of  470  miles,  170  of  which  was  in  the 
enemy's  country,  in  high  spirits  and  in  good  condition,  proud  to 
think  they  had  accomplished  a  feat,  which  for  hazard  and  hard 
ship,  has  no  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  war.  Where  all  were 
so  ready  and  willing  to  do  their  duty  and  performed  it  with  so 
much  cheerfulness  and  alacrity,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  select  a 
part  for  special  commendation,  but  the  two  battalions  of  the 
second  Michigan,  under  command  of  Colonel  Campbell,  deserve 
particular  notice  for  their  drill,  discipline  and  efficiency.  From 
the  superiority  of  their  arms  and  their  skill  in  their  use,  they 
seemed  to  feel  themselves  invincible,  and  wherever  there  was  an 
enemy  to  meet,  they  advanced  against  him  with  the  coolness 
and  steadiness  of  veterans. 

I  am  General,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  P.   CARTER, 

Brigadier-General  Volunteers. 

The  force  asked  for  by  me,  and  promised,  was  some  3,000 
men,  and  with  that  number  the  railroad  running  through  East 
Tennessee  could  have  been  destroyed  for  more  than  100  miles. 
Knoxville  could  also  have  been  captured  and  the  public  stores  of 
the  enemy  destroyed  from  Bristol  to  Loudori.  No  one  but  the 
commanding  officer  himself  can  know  the  disappointment  he 
felt,  when,  on  assembling  the  different  detachments,  it  was  found 
they  numbered,  all  told,  less  than  1,000  men. 

S.  P.  C. 


CHAPTER   XL 

RECUPERATING — PLEASANT    HOURS     SHORT    LIVKD FAREWELL  TO 

KKNTUCKY OFF      FOR     TENNESSEE GREEN      CLAY      SMITH 

THOMPSON'S  STATION. 

Our  raid  into  East  Tennessee  had  cost  us  very  dear  in 
horses  and  accoutrements,  as  well  as  costing  the  officers  consider 
able  personal  loss  in  pack  mules,  blankets,  private  property 
which  the  government  did  not  recognize  as  refundable,  and, 
therefore,  the  next  fifteen  days  of  rest  became  a  necessity;  still 
it  was  none  the  less  enjoyed  in  the  various  ways  incident  to  a 
soldier's  life  in  a  friendly  country.  At  the  end  of  a  little  more 
than  two  weeks  our  horses  and  accoutrements  were  pronounced 
in  condition  for  another  move,  and  we  set  out  for  Louisville — 
passing  through  Frankfort  on  the  27th  and  Shelby ville 
on  the  28th.  We  remained  at  Louisville  fromthe  29th  of 
January  to  the  3d  of  February,  when  the  first  and 
third  battalions  took  the  cars  for  Nashville,  but  did  not  arrive 
there  until  3  p.  M.  of  the  4th  on  account  of  obstructions. 
Here  the  second  battalion  joined  us,  on  the  7th,  after  a  separa- 


IN    THE    WEST.  113 

tion  of  several  months,  and  we  remained  in  camp  near  Nash  - 
ville  until  the  10th,  with  the  town  alive  with  soldiers,  and  the 
streets  a  perfect  babel  of  noises — ambulances,  army  wagons, 
trucks,  carriages  and  the  clatter  of  hoofs  combining  to  make 
this  the  noisiest  and  liveliest  scene  in  all  this  land.  On  the 
10th  of  February,  1863,  the  regiment  broke  camp  at  Nashville 
and  moved  out  towards  Murfreesboro,  but  the  condition  of  the 
roads  was  such  that  our  progress  was  slow,  and  we  did  not  arrive 
there  until  next  day  at  4  p.  M.  The  enemy  was  still  lingering 
near,  ready  to  pounce  upon  anyone  venturing  far  from  our 
main  forces,  but  this  did  not  deter  our  commander  from  send 
ing  out  one  of  our  battalions,  the  first,  on  a  foraging  expedition, 
on  the  12th,  taking  the  Brady  ville  pike  and  bringing  in  a  good 
train  of  wagons  well  loaded  with  corn  and  fodder.  This  was 
repeated  on  the  15th,  towards  Liberty,  the  enemy's  scouts  watch 
ing  our  trains;  but  our  scouts  saw  the  tracks  of  horses  going  in 
an  opposite  direction.  The  enemy's  pickets  were  driven  in 
towards  Liberty,  and,  turning  about,  their  scouts  were  followed, 
resulting  in  a  skirmish,  the  enemy  retiring. 

On  the  following  day  our  battalion  turned  towards  Nash 
ville,  by  way  of  the  Lebanon  pike,  fording  Stone  river,  with  the 
water  well  up  on  the  horses'  sides  and  the  current  running 
strong.  Several  days  were  occupied  in  swinging  around  to 
Murfreesboro,  via  Nashville  and  Cainsville,  arriving  back  in 
camp  on  the  22d.  The  balance  of  the  regiment  had  been  kept 
busy,  scouting  and  foraging  in  front  of  Murfreesboro,  and  on  the 
24th  of  February  the  entire  regiment  set  out  together  for 
Franklin,  where  we  arrived  next  day  without  incident  of  special 
note.  Here  began  our  memorable  Tennessee  campaign — recon- 


114  HUNDRED  BATTLKS 

naissances,  skirmishes  and  fights  occurring  almost  daily.  The 
first  of  these  was  made  in  company  with  the  ninth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  February  27th,  toward  Springhill,  where  the  enemy's 
pickets  were  driven  in  and  the  command  returned  to  camp  at 
Franklin.  The  country  in  front  of  Franklin  was  well  adapted 
to  the  movement  of  troops,  and  our  position  was  strengthened 
by  the  erection  of  Fort  Granger  on  the  banks  of  the  Harpeth 
river,  overlooking  the  town  and  surrounding  country.  We  had 
here  a  strong  force  of  infantry  and  artillery  and  one  brigade 
of  cavalry  with  three  good  turnpike  roads  extending  southward 
from  Franklin.  This  was  the  right  wing  of  General  Rosecrans's 
army,  and  was  destined  to  receive  a  good  deal  of  attention  from 
the  enemy,  and  therefore  the  cavalry  was  kept  on  the  move 
almost  constantly. 

General  Green  Clay  Smith  was  in  command  of  the  brigade, 
at  that  time  known  as  the  second  brigade,  second  division, 
cavalry  corps,  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  during  his  short 
stay  with  us  the  engagement  at  Brentwood  occurred.  This  was 
a  very  severe  cavalry  skirmish,  between  one  of  Forrest's  divis 
ions  (Stearne's)  and  our  brigade.  The  enemy  attacked  our 
block-house,  placed  to  guard  a  railroad  bridge  in  our  rear,  and 
we  arrived  in  time  to  assist  in  repulsing  them,  a  portion  of  the 
command  gaining  a  strong  position,  dismounted  behind  a  stone 
fence,  and  another  portion  charging  on  their  flanks  forced  them 
to  retire  in  confusion.  For  an  hour  or  more  it  h::d  every  ap 
pearance  of  a  general  engagement,  and  the  casualties  were  quite 
considerable  for  the  numbers  engaged. 

I  remember  an  incident  at  this  time  that  illustrates  what  a 
man  can  endure.  A  large,  fine  looking  young  soldier  from  the 


IN    THE    WEST.  115 

Second  rode  back  to  the  rear  with  an  ugly  bullet  wound  through 
the  mouth,  passing  out  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  afterward  we 
heard  that  he  "died  in  hospital,"  but  were  astonished  not  many 
months  after  to  see  him  walk  into  camp,  apparently  well, 
though  part  of  his  jaw  was  gone. 

On  the  morning  of  March  4th,  Colonel  Campbell,  in  com 
mand  of  the  cavalry  brigade,  was  ordered  to  send  out  a  part  of 
the  second  Michigan  and  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  on  a 
reconnaissance  to  Springhill,  with  Colonel  Jordan,  of  the  ninth 
Pennsylvania,  in  command  of  the  cavalry  and  Colonel  Coburn  in 
command  of  the  expedition.  When  five  miles  out  we  met  the 
enemy  in  force.  A  sharp  artillery  duel  ensued,  followed  by  the 
enemy  retiring,  and  our  command  bivouacked  for  the  night, 
after  driving  them  a  mile. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  March,  our  Colt  rifles  renewed 
the  fight  and,  with  the  assistance  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania, 
drove  the  enemy  three  miles. 

Major  L.  S.  Scranton,  commanding  the  second  Michigan, 
discovered  indications  of  a  trap,  and  checked  his  advance  until 
Colonel  Coburn  with  his  infantry  and  artillery  came  up.  Re 
porting  to  Colonel  Coburn  what  he  believed  to  be  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  enemy  under  General  Forrest,  the  com 
mander  of  our  expedition  seemed  to  think  the  major  unnecessarily 
alarmed,  in  fact  treating  that  officer  and  his  two  battalions  of 
cavalrymen  with  something  like  contempt,  or  at  least  paying  no 
attention  to  Major  Scranton's  words  of  caution,  and  without  so 
much  as  bringing  up  his  artillery,  moved  his  infantry  over  the 
hill  and  down  across  an  open  field  intending,  no  doubt,  to  drive 
Forrest  across  Duck  river.  As  Colonel  Coburn  turned  and 


116  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

followed  his  brigade  over  the  hill,  he  appeared  to  have  no  staff 
officers,  but  in  person  directed  the  officer  in  command  of  one 
battalion  of  the  Second  to  charge  the  enemy's  battery.  As  that 
particular  battalion  had  no  sabers,  but  were  really  mounted 
rifles,  the  officer,  a  lieutenant,  in  his  dilemma,  reported  to  Major 
Scranton  and  asked  for  instructions;  he  directed  that  an  orderly 
be  dispatched  to  the  ninth  Pennsylvania,  not  far  in  the  rear, 
with  Colonel  Coburn's  order,  and  our  two  battalions  imme 
diately  took  positions  on  the  left  flank,  where  the  enemy  were 
appearing  in  force  to  turn  Colonel  Coburn's  left.  Xor  was  there 
any  time  to  lose.  The  enemy  were  swarming  into  the  bit  of 
woods,  apparently  a  whole  brigade  of  them,  and  in  five  minutes 
would  have  had  our  defenseless  ambulances  and  powerless 
artillery  in  their  hands.  The  artillery  was  powerless,  because 
they  were  in  the  road  between  two  hills,  where  Colonel  Coburn 
had  left  them,  and  were  hemmed  in  and  could  neither  move 
backward  nor  forward,  nor  could  they  turn  out  of  the  road  by 
reason  of  the' banks  on  either  side.  Worse  than  all,  the  com 
mandant  of  the  expedition  had  left  the  ninth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry  to  look  out  for  our  rear,  when  they  were  the  only 
mounted  men  in  the  command  that  were  armed  and  equipped 
for  a  charge,  and  should  have  been  at  the  front  if  such  service 
was  to  be  for  a  moment  thought  of.  However,  the  Second  had, 
in  Major  Scranton,  a  cool-headed  officer,  quick  to  grasp  the 
situation,  and  the  only  thing  that  remained  to  be  done  at  this 
stage  of  the  blunder  was  to  check  the  flank  movement  of  the 
enemy,  which  was  done  in  good  style,  both  of  our  battalions 
being  immediately  dismounted  and  thrown  under  cover  of  the 
fence  along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  a  part  of  them  lapping  past 


IN    THE    WEST. 


the  woods  into  the  open  field  on  the  left.  Major  Scranton  re 
mained  mounted,  and  rode  fearlessly  along  the  line,  directing 
them  and  keeping  the  alignment  perfect.  Volley  was  met  with 


MAJOR  L.  S.  SCRANTON. 

volley,  and  the  enemy  soon  discovered  they  had  no  easy  task  on 
hand.  About  this  time  loud  cheers  were  heard  in  the  direction 
of  Coburn,  and  then  the  firing  ceased.  The  road  had  now  be 
come  clear  and  the  artillery  took  up  a  position  a  short  distance 
in  the  rear,  expecting  orders  from  Colonel  Coburn,  but  none 
came  nor  could  we  see  what  was  going  on  at  Thompson's 
Station.  Suddenly  another  flanking  party  attacked  our  rear,  and 
Colonel  Jordan,  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania,  turned  his  attention 
that  way  and  attacking  the  enemy  in  our  rear  sent  them  flying 
into  the  woods  and  off  around  to  our  right  to  join  their  own 
forces.  The  Second  then  fell  back  and  took  position  near  our 


118  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

artillery,  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy's  flankers,  but  they  ap 
peared  satisfied  to  let  us  alone,  and  returned  to  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  their  little  game  of  strategy,  which  we  now  discovered  was 
the  capture  of  all  of  Colonel  Coburn's  infantry,  except  a  part 
of  one  regiment  he  had  left  to  support  the  battery.  Colonel 
Coburn  severely  censured  the  cavalry,  claiming  that/  we  run 
away  and  left  him.  He  also  criticised  General  Rosecrans  for 
this  disaster. 

The  least  he  has  to  say  about  that  affair,  the  better. 

Only  his  own  blind  rashness  was  at  fault  for  the  failure  of 
his  expedition.  The  cavalry  was  not  driven  from  a  single  posi 
tion,  but  fell  back  for  a  better  one,  and  if  he  had  been  clear 
headed,  he  would  never  have  gone  with  a  brigade  of  infantry  to 
attack  18,000  men  in  a  strong  position,  without  at  least  knowing 
that  his  flanks  were  clear  and  his  artillery  in  position  to  cover 
his  retreat,  should  it  be  necessary.  Instead,  he  left  his  cavalry 
and  artillery  in  an  almost  inextricable  tangle  with  his  wagons 
and  ambulance  train,  which  was  apparently  big  enough  to  have 
brought  back  his  whole  command  rolled  up  in  blankets  and 
bandages. 

That  Colonel  Coburn  was  a  brave  man,  and  his  brigade  all 
good  men,  there  can  be  no  doubt — they  proved  that,  by  walking 
straight  up  to  the  cannon's  mouth  in  the  face  of  overwhelming 
numbers,  but  he  should  have  listened  to  Major  Scranton  when 
warned  by  that  officer  that  a  trap  was  being  set,  and  ascertain 
ed  first  whether  the  force  he  left  behind  was  able  to  take  care  of 
his  flanks.  In  sliort,  he  was  unfit,  at  that  time,  for  the  independ 
ent  command  of  an  expedition,  though  he  would,  doubtless, 
have  done  his  full  duty  as  second  in  command. 


IN    THE    WEST.  119 

It  was  said  that  General  Gilbert,  at  that  time  in  command 
at  Franklin,  underestimated  the  strength  of  the  enemy  and  was 
at  fault  for  Colonel  Coburn's  disaster.  If  that  was  true  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  did  his  whole  duty  by  promptly  removing  him, 
and  soon  General  Gordon  Granger  was  in  command,  ably  sec 
onded  by  General  Phil  Sheridan. 

On  the  8th  of  March  the  right  wing  of  our  army  (the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland)  moved  out  on  the  Columbia  pike, 
with  the  Second  in  advance.  Meeting  the  enemy's  pickets, 
seven  miles  out,  and  sending  out  our  skirmishers,  we  drove  back 
the  advance  line  of  the  enemy,  and  held  our  ground  until  the 
army  should  come  up.  But  darkness  coming  on,  we  bivouacked 
for  the  night,  our  regiment  forming  the  advance  picket.  Our 
lines  were  so  near  together  that  conversation  could  be  heard 
from  one  camp  fire  to  the  other. 

One  of  our  pickets,  Private  Morris  Fitch,  distinguished 
himself  that  night  by  capturing  two  armed  rebel  scouts  who 
were  trying  to  steal  across  his  beat.  "Surrender,  or  I'll  blow 
you  through!"  Their  arms  dropped  and  he  marched  them  at 
the  muzzle  of  his  revolver  back  to  headquarters. 

Our  line  was  maintained,  and  at  daybreak  we  were  again  in 
the  saddle;  a  mile  further  on  we  came  up  with  the  enemy's  pick 
ets  strongly  posted.  Dismounting  and  forming  a  skirmish  line 
we  marched  out  of  the  little  patch  of  woods,  into  an  open  field, 
and  when  half  way  across  discovered  the  enemy  in  heavy  force 
behind  a  stone  wall,  in  the  woods,  with  their  cavalry  forming 
strong  flankers  in  full  view.  A  murderous  fire  was  poured  into 
our  ranks  from  behind  the  stone  wall,  when  our  commander, 
Major  Ben  Smith,  shouted  "Under  cover,"  where .  we  lay  a  few 


120  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

moments. until  the  storm  of  bullets  had  slackened  a  little,  when 
the  voice  of  Major  Ben  was  again  heard,  "Forward,  second 
Michigan!"  Over  the  stone  wall  we  went,  firing  as  we  ran 
through  the  woods,  and,  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  we 
had  either  captured  or  driven  out  the  last  one  of  them,  across 
the  field  and  up  the  hill.  Thompson's  Station  was  ours  and  we 
continued  our  advance  beyond  Springhill,  closely  followed  by 
the  infantry  and  artillery.  But  not  on  foot  all  this  while,  for 
our  movements  were  rapid  at  times,  and  rails  flew  like  straws  if 
in  the  way  of  our  rapid  advance  mounted.  Some  of  the  most 
serious  injuries  sustained  were  caused  by  men  crowding  through 
gaps  where  there  was  not  room;  but  nothing  could  stop  the 
impetuosity  of  our  men  when  they  felt  they  had  good  backing. 
Night  came  on,  however,  and  we  were  compelled  to  bivouac, 
with  a  cold  rain  drenching  us  to  the  skin,  and  the  driest  place 
we  could  find  to  rest  upon  was  a  few  rails  spread  upon  the 
ground,  with  mud  and  water  all  about  us  knee  deep.  A  cup 
of  coffee  and  a  piece  of  hard  bread  seem  thin  fare  for  a  tired 
and  hungry  man,  but  it  was  the  best  at  hand  and  no  use  to  mur 
mur.  But  to  lie  down  in  wet  clothing  in  a  cold  March  wind  was 
not  calculated  to  bring  much  comfort  or  recuperation  to  worn 
and  weary  bodies.  Yet  there  were  no  complaints,  and  morning 
found  us  again  in  the  saddle,  pushing,  skirmishing  and  fighting 
all  day,  driving  the  enemy  across  Rutherford  creek,  where  we 
found  them  in  force  as  night  came  on.  This  stream,  swollen  by 
recent  rains,  was  crossed  and  re-crossed  after  dark,  our  regimental 
commander,  Major  Ben  Smith,  nearly  losing  his  life  by  being 
swept  into  deep  water.  But  we  gained  the  north  bank  of  the 
creek  and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  occupying  every  house 


IX    THE    WEST.  121 

and  the  schoolhouse  in  our  efforts  to  find  shelter  for  our  men, 
not  hesitating  to  burn  furniture,  school  desks  or  whatever  we 
could  find  to  dry  our  clothing.  Was  that  vandalism  ?  Who 
shall  condemn  ? 

In  the  morning  we  were  as  ready  as  ever  to  take  the  front, 
crossing  Rutherford  creek  for  the  third  time,  driving  in  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  and  following  them  along  to  Duck  river, 
where  the  strong  fortifications  of  Columbia  stopped  our  further 
progress,  and  we  retired  leisurely  to  Franklin. 


CHAPTER     XII. 

MIDDLE     TENNESSEE THREE     MONTHS    OF      "POST1"    DUTY BOOTS 

AND  SADDLES GRANGER SHERIDAN WATKINS CAMPBELL. 

To  chronicle  the  movements  of  our  regiment  during  the 
next  three  months  would  be  to  repeat  much  that  is  scarce  worth 
our  time,  not  to  mention  the  question  of  interest  at  the  hands  of 
those  whose  attention  we  desire  to  claim.  In  another  part  of 
this  volume  will  be  found  the  dry  details  of  daily  movements  as 
recorded  by  the  adjutant  of  the  regiment;  also  the  losses,  by 
killed,  wounded  and  missing,  in  each  engagement,  which  are 
purposely  omitted  from  the  historical  narrative  part  here. 

As  we  look  back  over  the  intervening  twenty  years  it 
appears  to  us  as  in  a  dream — those  pleasant  valleys  of  middle 
Tennessee  where  the  corn  had  ceased  to  wave,  but  the  green 
hills  were  just  as  rich  in  verdure,  the  early  bird-song  just  as  en 
chanting,  the  marvelous  beauty  of  flower  and  shrub  and  tree 
undimmed;  but  our  duty  was  not  all  poetry  and  romance.  The 
hard  realities  of  life  met  us  every  hour,  whether  by  night  or 
day;  at  the  bugle's  shrill  call  every  man  "to  horse"  and  away, 
meeting  the  enemy  on  their  own  grounds,  and,  if  necessary, 


IN  THE  WEST.  123 

attacking  them  in  their  strongholds.  Every  foot  of  ground 
between  Franklin  and  Columbia  became  as  familiar  to  us  as  our 
neighborhood  roads  at  home.  We  picketed  every  road  and 
scouted  over  every  plantation,  and  he  who  crept  near  our  lonely 
videttes  at  midnight  or  early  morning,  when  eyes  were  heaviest, 
found  him  as  alert  as  at  midday.  No  sleeping  where  the  safety 
of  the  whole  command  depended  on  his  watchful  care,  and  for 
this  our  regiment  soon  became  favorably  known  to  our  com 
manders  and  as  frequently  recognized.  Nor  did  it  matter  to 
them  whether  it  was  the  Lewisburg,  the  Columbia,  Carter's 
creek,  Nashville  pike  or  Mathews  road,  they  were  always  ready 
and  equally  at  home. 

At  the  same  time  it  became  necessary  to  study  the  people. 
There  were  the  loyal,  the  professedly  loyal,  the  conservative 
southerner  and  the  bitter  secessionist,  and  as  our  mission  was 
against  armed  foes  only,  it  often  became  a  very  difficult  task  to 
discriminate  between  the  loyal  and  the  professedly  loyal;  but 
all  were  watched  alike  and  our  dealings  with  them  made  as 
agreeable  as  possible  under  the  circumstances. 

As  a  rule,  whatever  was  taken  for  food  was  paid  for;  yet  as 
our  army  was  the  natural  refuge  of  some  of  the  worst  elements 
of  our  northern  society,  as  well  as  the  same  element  from  Can 
ada,  the  better  portions  of  our  army — though  largely  in  the 
majority — were  often  powerless  to  prevent  outrages.  Two 
worthless  vagabonds  to  a  single  company  would  give  to  that 
company  a  very  bad  record — except  for  fighting — and  while 
they  often  were  found  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  they  appeared 
bullet  proof;  in  fact  the  devil  seemed  anxious  to  preserve  them 
for  some  special  job,  wrhen  they  were  sure  to  be  on  hand.  Yet 
the  regiment  made  many  warm  friends  at  Franklin,  and  that 
friendship  was  appreciated. 


124  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

On  the  31st  of  March  and  April  1st  we  had  skirmishes  at 
the  front,  with  Colonel  Campbell  in  command  of  the  brigade, 
and  Major  Ben.  Smith  in  command  of  the  regiment. 

April  9th  a  part  of  the  regiment  were  patrolling  the  road 
leading  towards  Murfreesboro  when  they  were  attacked  by  a 
strong  scouting  party  near  McGarrack's  ford,  but  the  detach 
ment  held  their  ground  and  defeated  the  enemy. 

On  the  13th  our  foragers  went  too  near  the  enemy's  lines 
and  wrere  driven  in  by  a  strong  force,  but  not  without  loss  to 
the  enemy.  General  Granger's  scouts  reported  an  expected 
attack  in  force  on  the  town  and  orders  were  issued  that  no  fires 
be  allowed  near  the  picket  lines.  This  was  considerable  of  a 
hardship  during  the  cool  spring  nights,  but  the  order  was 
strictly  carried  out. 

Wherever  Gordon  Granger  was  in  command  there  was  little 
rest  for  soldiers;  if  not  in  the  saddle,  camp  duties  were  numer 
ous  and  inspections  frequent.  As  a  disciplinarian  he  had  few 
equals,  but  as  a  downright  aggressive  Jiyhtcr  Phil  Sheridan  was 
considered  at  least  his  equal  from  the  start. 

Our  commander  at  this  time,  Colonel  Campbell,  taken  as  he 
was  from  private  life  and  advanced  rapidly — too  rapidly,  per 
haps,  for  his  own  good — had  much  to  learn,  but  he  was  an  apt 
scholar  in  certain  ways  and  was,  as  far  as  he  was  able  to  com 
prehend,  an  imitator  of  every  valued  military  officer  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  His  management  of  a  regiment  or  a 
brigade  often  commanded  the  admiration  of  his  superiors,  while 
he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  a  majority  of  his  own  regiment, 
especially  the  men,  and  they  would  follow  him  anywhere  and 
stay  as  long  as  he  stayed.  He  often  boasted  that  he  could  hold 


IX    THE    WEST.  125 

his  own  against  five  times  his  number,  and  whenever  he  had  the 
choosing  of  his  ground,  he  proved  the  truth  of  his  assertions. 
Frequently,  while  at  Franklin,  the  regiment  went  after  forage 
with  the  entire  train  of  wagons,  and  though  often  attacked  on 
these  occasions,  it  was  very  seldom  the  regiment  failed  to  bring 
back  the  train  well  loaded  with  corn  or  fodder. 


BKEVET  BRIG.-GEN.    A.    P.    CAMPBELL. 

On  the  25th  of  April  the  bugles  sounded  "Boots  and  sad 
dles"  long  before  day,  and  we  crossed  the  Harpeth  to  meet  an 
attack,  but  it  proved  a  false  alarm,  and  the  regiment  returned  to 
camp.  Next  day,  at  midnight,  Colonel  Campbell  was  ordered 
to  march  with  his  brigade  and  capture  a  regiment  of  rebel 
cavalry  camping  to  the  right  of  the  Columbia  pike,  occupying 
an  advanced  position  of  the  enemy's  force  in  our  front. 

Out  into  the  darkness  with  as  little  noise  as  possible,  the 
brigade  moved  on,  a  mile  or  two,  when  it  was  reported  to  Col 
onel  Campbell  that  the  second  Michigan  had  missed  the  road 
they  should  have  taken  to  the  right,  and  were  marching  straight 
forward  on  the  pike  into  the  enemy's  lines.  Grasping  the  situa 
tion  at  once,  Campbell  halted  the  column,  directed  his  brigade 


126  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

adjutant  to  hold  the  command  there  until  his  return,  put  spurs 
to  his  horse  and  dashed  across  to  the  other  part  of  his  command, 
whore  he  arrived  just  in  time  to  prevent  a  collision.  The  delay 
caused  by  this  misfortune  brought  the  faintest  streaks  of  morn 
ing  light,  and  as  the  adjutant  knew  the  objects  of  the  expe 
dition  he  communicated  with  Colonel  Watkins,  next  in  command, 
his  fears  if  any  further  delay  occurred,  and  advised  him  to 
assume  command  and  strike  while  he  could.  Colonel  Watkins 
received  the  order  as  coming  from  Campbell  and  immediately 
put  his  command  at  full  speed  and  charged  upon  the  enemy's 
camp,  striking  them  just  as  they  were  beginning  to  arouse  from 
their  slumbers.  Many  of  the  rebels  mounted  their  bare-back 
horses  and  scattered,  but  most  of  them  were  captured,  with 
their  equipments  and  horses,  and  brought  back  to  Franklin.  For 
this  Colonel  Watkins  was  made  a  brigadier,  while  Campbell, 
who  should  have  been  promoted  but  for  his  misfortune,  was 
permanently  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  in  place 
of  Green  Clay  Smith. 

For  several  days  after  this  dash  at  the  enemy  they  were 
very  active,  threatening  our  lines  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
night.  To  be  aroused  at  midnight  and  hasten  to  the  front,  only 
to  stand  to  horse  till  daylight,  and  repeat  the  same  thing  night 
after  night,  was  not  congenial  sport  for  cavalrymen,  and  the 
language  indulged  in  on  such  occasions  was  decidedly  forcible 
if  not  elegant.  On  the  1st  of  May  the  regiment  had  an  oppor 
tunity  for  venting  some  of  their  ill  feeling,  and  in  a  skirmish 
with  the  enemy  in  front  of  Franklin  used  them  roughly,  captur 
ing  a  number  of  prisoners.  But,  to  their  credit  be  it  said> 
prisoners  were  always  treated  with  military  courtesy,  if  taken 


IX    THE    WEST.  12V 

While  in  their  regular  line  of  of  duty,  but  bushwhackers 
received  little  mercy — in  fact  few  questions  were  asked  as  to 
what  became  of  them,  and  no  mistakes  were  ever  made  that  we 
heard  of. 

During  the  month  of  May  the  usual  routine  of  camp  life 
was  followed — including  scouts,  skirmishes,  foragings  and 
alarms,  and  we  still  had  time  left  for  the  enjoyment  of  much 

that  was  pleasant  in  that  beautiful  valley  around  Franklin its 

Roper's  Knob,  surmounted  by  fortifications,  the  headquarters  of 
the  signal  corps,  the  clear  running  Harpeth,  broad  plantations 
dotted  with  pleasant  Southern  homes,  surrounded  by  groves  of 
fruit  and  forest  trees.  But  this  apparent  inactivity  was  only  a 
breathing  spell  to  give  the  country  roads  a  chance  to  thoroughly 
dry  while  the  wet  season  was  passing,  and  on  the  2d  of  June, 
1863,  we  marched  out  of  Franklin,  leaving  only  a  small  garrison 
there,  while  our  lines  were  being  contracted  to  our  left,  our 
right  resting  for  a  time  on  Triune,  and  our  active  campaign  for 
the  summer  was  begun. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

TENNESSEE      CAMPAIGN TRIUNE A      SINGLE-HANDED      CHARGE — 

A  GALLOP  TO  FRANKLIN — GENERAL  ARMSTRONG GUY*S  GAP — 

A      TEN  THOUSAND       CAVALRY       CHARGE STANLEY MINTY— 

CAMPBELL. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1863,  before  we  had  fairly  settled  in 
camp  at  Triune,  the  signal  corps  reported  Franklin  attacked  by 
a  strong  force  of  rebel  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry.  Im 
mediately  our  brigade  was  in  the  saddle  dashing  off  towards 
Franklin.  That  was  a  long  race.  No  place  for  worn  out  horses, 
or  delicate,  faint-hearted  men.  At  four  o'clock  P.  M.  the  ar 
tillery  firing  could  be  heard,  distinctly,  above  the  clatter  of 
hoofs,  sabers  and  spurs;  and,  plunging  spurs  into  the  sides  of 
horses  already  white  with  foam,  they  madly  dashed  on,  not 
knowing  a  word  of  the  enemy  they  were  to  meet,  and  apparently 
caring  little.  Two  hours  later  the  second  Michigan  wheeled 
into  line  near  Mathews  house  at  Franklin,  and,  without  waiting 
to  dismount,  opened  their  revolving  rifles  upon  a  brigade  of 
rebel  cavalry  under  General  Armstrong,  and  in  twenty  minutes 


IN  THE  WEST.  129 

the  enemy  were  fleeing  in  every  direction,  with  twelve  of  the 
enemy  killed,  sixteen  severely  wounded  and  twenty  prisoners, 
while  our  own  loss  was  trifling. 

The  thorough  military  skill  which  seemed  to  possess  every 
soldier  of  this  command,  whether  oflicer  or  private,  was  some 
times  remarkable.  At  this  brilliant  dash  an  incident  occurred 
which  will  illustrate  that  fact.  A  private  of  company  F,  Tom 
Dixon,  says:  "I  happened  to  be  nearer  company  A  than  to  my 
own  company,  and  fell  in  with  them  at  the  time  company  A, 
who  were  in  the  advance,  wheeled  into  the  woods  at  the  foot  of 
a  lane,  filled  with  large  loose  rocks.  A  volley  was  fired  at  us 
from  our  flank  and  the  Johnnies  were  so  close  we  had  no  time 
to  maneuver,  but  without  command  every  man  threw  himself 
from  the  saddle  and  let  the  horses  go  to  the  rear.  In  less  time 
than  it  takes  to  tell  it  we  had  given  the  enemy  a  volley  and 
were  following  them  up  with  another  in  quick  succession.  The 
regiment  saw  our  horses,  galloping  riderless  back  across  the 
field,  and  not  seeing  any  of  us,  concluded  the  whole  company 
had  been  annihilated,  and  for  a  few  moments  there  was  grief 
and  consternation  among  them.  But  there  was  no  time  for  that, 
and  the  boys  came  to  the  rescue  on  the  gallop.  About  this  time 

a  Confederate  oflicer  said,  'Cut  down  the  cowardly  s b — 

but  he  did  not  finish  the  sentence.  He  fell  with  his  horse  and 
was  pinned  to  the  earth.  'O,  boys,'  yelled  the  reb,  'where's  your 
ambulance?  Help  me  out;  I'm  hurt.'  'We  hain't  got  no  ambu 
lance,'  says  I;  'help  yourself  out  and  be  d to  you!  We've 

got  something  else  to  do  besides  waiting  on  blow-heads  like 
you.  Learn  to  keep  a  civil  tongue  in  your  head,  will  you!' 
All  this  while  our  fellows  were  coming  up  rapidly  and  com- 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 

pany  A  was  holding  the  ground  from  behind  every  tree, 
stump  or  rock,  and  in  ten  minutes  Armstrong's  flag  was  ours  and 
the  lane  and  woods  were  full  of  dead  and  wounded.  I  got  a 
dose  in  my  foot  that  lasted  me  all  summer." 

The  rest  of  our  brigade  were  busy,  and  the  enemy  were  en 
tirely  routed  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time.  This  was  the 
shortest  and  most  decisive  battle  the  regiment  had  been  engaged 
in,  and  gave  them  renewed  confidence  in  their  strength. 

The     prisoners    stated  that   had  they   Inown   the   second 

Michigan  was  there  they  would  not   have   stayed   to   fight,   for 

they  knew  what  those  revolving  rifles   would  do,  and   declared 

they  feared  the  regiment  more  than   any    other   they   had    ever 

met. 

Among  the  trophies  of  this  engagement  was  a  new  and 
beautiful  Texas  flag  that  had  recently  been  presented  to  the 
Confederate  General  Armstrong. 

The  wounded  prisoners  were  removed  to  Mathewrs  house 
and  cared  for,  and  the  command  bivouacked  at  Franklin  until 
the  night  of  the  Cth,  whe'n  they  returned  to  Triune. 

June  9th  we  were  attacked  in  force;  our  pickets  driven  in 
and  skirmishing  continued  all  day  with  little  loss  on  either  side. 
On  the  10th  the  enemy  considerately  gave  us  a  rest  long  enough 
for  the  paymaster  to  discharge  his  obligations  with  the  troops; 
but  on  the  llth  we  were  again  attacked  and  skirmished  with 
the  enemy  all  day,  with  now  and  then  a  dash  by  either  side, 
the  Second  generally  holding  their  ground  sturdily  at  the  front 
and  our  brigade  band  swinging  into  line  occasionally  to  greet 
the  flying  enemy  with,  "Out  of  the  Wilderness,"  and  never 
was  music  more  appropriate.  On  the  llth  and  12th  portions 


IN    THE    WEST.  131 

of  the  regiment  had  the  disagreeable  task  of  escorting  a  train  to 
Franklin — disagreeable,  because  if  there  was  a  possibility  of  a 
tight,  we  wanted  a  clear  field,  not  encumbered  with  a  helpless 
wagon  train;  but  we  returned  safely  next  day,  and  for  ten  days 
thereafter  were  drilled,  inspected  and  put  in  fighting  trim  for 
a  grand  forward  movement.  At  this  time  the  cavalry  was 
reorganized,  and  our  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  first  brigade, 
first  division  of  cavalry,  army  of  the  Cumberland,  Colonel  A.  P. 
Campbell  commanding  the  brigade,  consisfmg  of  the  second 
Michigan,  ninth  Pennsylvania,  fourth  Kentucky  and  first  East 
Tennessee  cavalry,  General  R.  B.  Mitchell  commanding  the 
division  and  General  D.  S.  Stanley  commanding  the  cavalry 
corps. 

On  the  23d  of  June  tents  were  struck  and  our  regiment  pro 
ceeded  along  the  Shelbyville  pike,  skirmishing  with  and  driving 
the  enemy  till  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  our  brigade  was  charged 
to  by  the  enemy  without  breaking  our  lines,  the  enemy  re 
tiring  in  confusion.  When  the  regiment  moved  through  Eagle- 
ville,  June  23d,  artillery  confronted  them,  and  a  portion  of  the 
regiment  dismounted  and  routed  them;  mounting  they  drove 
the  enemy  three  miles.  In  this  movement  the  enemy's  artillery 
continued  to  fire  until  the  Second  were  within  eighty  rods, 
when  they  limbered  up  and  galloped  away.  This  was  a  very 
hot  day  and  men  were  falling  out  continually,  and  soon  a  flank 
firing  was  heard,  followed  by  a  charge  from  the  enemy.  This 
was  handsomely  met  by  a  counter  charge  from  the  first  Tenn 
essee  and  the  flankers  retired  in  confusion.  At  this  moment  a 
single  horseman  was  seen  to  leave  the  enemy's  ranks  and  charge 
down  alone  upon  our  brigade  in  front  of  the  first  Tennessee. 


1-32  HUNDRED    IJAT'I  I.KS 

Nearly  every  man  in  that  regiment  and  not  a  few  from  the 
Second  fired  at  the  charging  figure,  and  at  last  stopped  in  blank 
amazement  that  the  man  was  able  to  sit  bolt  upright  in  face  of 
that  shower  of  bullets.  But  he  still  came  thundering  on,  while 
hostilities  ceased  on  both  sides  to  look  and  wonder  if  the  man 
was  made  of  iron,  or,  had  he  a  charmed  life.  He  soon  rode  in 
among  the  Federal  troops  and  the  mystery  was  explained.  A 
bullet  had  cut  both  reins,  and  the  horse  refused  to  cease  charg 
ing;  all  that  the  ridel*  could  do  was  grasp  the  horse's  mane  and 
pommel  of  the  saddle  and  hang  on.  His  clothes  were  riddled 
and  the  horse  had  many  a  scratch,  but  the  man's  skin  was  whole,, 
though  it  may  be  doubted  if  he  breathed  during  his  ride. 

Camping  at  Rover  for  the  night  the  march  was  resumed,  at 
8  o'clock  next  morning,  through  Versailles  and  Middleton, 
where  the  enemy's  cavalry  made  another  stand,  but  the  revolv 
ing  rifles  soon  dislodged  them,  with  severe  punishment  for  the 
time  engaged.  Rains  again  set  in  and  all  roads  except  the 
macadamized  turnpikes  became  next  to  impassable,  while  the 
discomfort  of  the  troops  was  great;  wagon  trains  could  not  keep 
up  and  our  bivouacs  were  in  the  rain,  no  covering  but  our  wet 
blankets  and  ponchos — and  such  rains  as  only  Tennessee  can 
boast  of;  while  the  red  clay  and  black  muck  formed  a  barrier 
more  serious  than  armed  foe  or  frowning  battlements.  With 
such  discouragements  it  was  no  wonder  men  should  murmur, 
"Surely  the  Lord  is  not  on  our  side — if  He  has  anything  to  do 
with  this  weather." 

General  Rosecrans  had  evidently  intended  to  throw  his 
strong  right  arm  around  Bragg  and  crush  him  before  he  should 
cross  the  Tennessee.  We  were  a  part  of  that  strong  right  arm. 


IN    THE    WEST.  133 

But  our  trains  and  artillery  were  hopelessly  stranded  in  the 
mud.  Granger,  Stanley  and  Mitchell  were  all  here,  but  push  we 
could  not.  However,  as  the  cavalry  corps  came  to  Fosterville, 
and  drove  in  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  Stanley  determined  to 
abandon  the  mud-bound  trains  and  artillery  to  their  fate  and 
strike  with  the  cavalry  alone. 

Guy's  Gap  was  before  us,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  away, 
and  along  its  crest  stretching  out  to  the  right  and  left  were 
earthworks  breast  high;  between  us  an  open  plain,  ascending  to 
the  hill.  The  sun  burst  through  the  heavy  clouds  and  shone  full 
in  the  faces  of  10,000  cavalry,  in  two  lines,  division  fronts;  ban 
ners  flying,  bands  playing  and  the  command  marching  in  as 
perfect  lines  as  if  on  a  parade.  Such  a  sight  was  rare  in  the 
history  of  the  war — a  corps  of  cavalry  about  to  charge  earth 
works  across  an  open  field,  and  up  a  hill. 

"Steady!  steady!"  was  heard  in  low  distinct  tones  along  the 
line,  though  at  every  step  the  dreaded  grape  or  canister  was 
expected.  A  half  mile,  and  yet  no  sign  from  the  enemy; 
another  quarter  and  still  no  curling  smoke  nor  screeching  shell. 
Casting  our  eyes  for  a  moment  to  the  earthworks  not  a  man  nor 
gun  in  sight.  At  this  instant  General  Stanley  ordered  Colonel 
Minty,  of  the  fourth  Michigan  cavalry,  to  lead  the  charge  with 
his  brigade,  and  right  gallantly  was  the  order  executed,  Colonel 
Campbell  following  next  with  his  brigade,  and  the  entire  corps 
close  in  the  rear  in  columns  of  fours  and  platoons. 

The  enemy  had  become  frightened  and  fled  precipitately, 
three  pieces  of  artillery  halting  long  enough  on  the  hill  at  the 
entrance  to  Shelbyville  to  give  us  a  few  shots,  then,  wheeling 
again,  dashed  through  the  town,  hotly  followed  by  Minty  and  his 


134  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

brigade,  while  Campbell  with  his  brigade,  taking  a  street  to  the 
left,  reached  Duck  river  at  the  further  edge  of  town  in  time  to 
see  hundreds  of  the  enemy  plunge  in  and  endeavor  to  swim 
across,  not  half  of  whom  ever  gained  the  other  shore,  while 
Minty  gained  the  bridge  in  time  to  cut  off  numerous  prisoners 
from  Wheeler's  cavalry  and  capture  one  piece  of  artillery  on 
the  bridge.  The  roads  were  too  heavy  to  follow  the  fleeing 
enemy  far,  and  we  returned  to  Guy's  Gap  for  the  night,  having 
captured  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  500  prisoners. 

It  was  at  Shelbyville  that  we  were  greeted  by  the  pleasant 
sight  of  many  flags  bearing  the  "Stars  and  Stripes"  suddenly  flung 
out  from  chamber  windows,  and  shouts  of  welcome  from  women 
and  aged  men  who  had  lived  like  prisoners  in  their  own  homes; 
and  colored  women  crying,  "Bress  de  Lord,  we  knowed  you'd 
come."  And  it  was  here,  too,  that  we  recaptured  one  of  our 
female  spies,  the  famous  Major  Belle  Boyd,  who  had  only  saved 
herself  from  rebel  prison  pens  or  the  gallows  by  feigning  sick 
ness,  which  she  counterfeited  admirably. 

Though  the  Second  took  no  part  in  the  cutting  and  slashing 
at  Shelbyville,  they  were  among  the  first  to  reach  Duck  river 
and  did  their  full  share  in  helping  to  capture  the  prisoners  and 
artillery.  It  was  said  that  Frank  Wheeler,  "the  gallant  Frank 
Wheeler,"  as  he  was  called,  only  escaped  by  swimming  the 
river.  Be  this  as  it  may,  we  had  little  trouble  from  him  for 
weeks  after. . 

On  the  28th  we  returned  to  Shelbyville,  through  Fail-field, 
scouting  the  country  to  the  right  and  left,  and  on  the  30th 
marched  through  rain  and  mud  toward  Manchester;  and  on  this 
march  Governor  Blair  and  Adjutant-General  Robertson  were 


IN    THE    WEST.  135 

with  us,  sharing  our  soldier's  fare  with  apparent  relish,  though 
under  most  unfavorable  circumstances.  Passing  through  Man 
chester,  on  the  2d  of  July,  we  moved  on  through  Winchester, 
fording  Elk  river  and  on  to  Decherd  and  Gowan,  where  we 
arrived  at  about  the  same  time  with  General  Sheridan,  who  had 
been  hotly  pressing  Bragg,  but  now  that  individual  had  again 
slipped  through  our  fingers  and  was  over  the  mountains  and 
practically  out  of  Tennessee. 

We  had  not  seen  our  trains  since  leaving  Triune,  neither 
tents  or  baggage;  no  time  to  air  or  wash  our  clothing;  therefore, 
it  was  not  an  unwelcome  thought  that  possibly  as  we  returned 
to  Decherd  we  might  remain  until  our  wagons  carna  swimming 
out  of  the  mud;  and  so  it  proved,  for  near  there  we  remained  for 
two  weeks,  and  while  here  we  received  the  news  of 
two  great  Union  victories — Gettysburg,  July  1st,  2d  and 
3d,  and  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  July  4th,  fo:  our  tele 
graph  operators  had  kept  up  with  us  and  had  a  wire  encased  in 
rubber  strung  along  the  roadside  and  through  the  trees.  We 
were  able  to  celebrate  our  "Fourth"  in  a  quiet  way,  with  the  sun 
once  more  smiling  upon  us  and  our  "only  shirt,"  hanging  on  the 
bush. 

That  Bragg  had  escaped  without  a  general  battle  was  a 
bitter  disappointment  to  General  Rosecrans  and  the  officers 
and  men  under  him,  but  we  felt  that  only  the  elements  were  at 
fault.  Streams  were  swollen,  bridges  gone,  and  supplies  could 
not  keep  up  with  the  movements  of  the  army.  We  had  been 
living  on  short  rations,  many  of  them  nearly  spoiled,  and  men 
were  getting  sick,  while  horses  were  abandoned  by  the  road 
side.  That  rain  was  a  national  calamity,  yet  the  lesson  was  a 


136  HUNDRED    HATTI.KS 

needed   one    and    was    not    without    its    good    results    later  on. 

After  resting  near  Winchester  until  the  13th,  foraging 
upon  the  country  and  recruiting  our  horses,  we  marched  to 
Salem,  Alabama,  where  the  cavalry  corps  was  concentrated,  and 
moved  on  to  New  Market,  passing  on  over  a  spur  of  the 
mountains,  fording  Flint  river  (very  much  swollen),  and  arrived 
at  the  beautiful  city  of  Hunts ville,  Alabama,  the  heart  of  one 
of  the  richest  sections  of  the  south;  with  good  roads,  clear 
rivers,  fertile  plains,  and,  near  by,  fine  mountain  scenery  with 
beautiful  residences;  and  in  the  heart  of  the  city  a  clear  spring 
that  is  its  own  water  power  to  convey  to  every  home  a  bountiful 
supply  of  aqua  pura.  Our  stay  here  was  brief,  when  we  march 
ed  to  Fayetteville,  camping  for  a  few  days  near  the  Stone 
bridge,  thence  on  to  Salem  and  Winchester,  and  on  the  31st  of 
July  returned  to  Fayetteville,  camping  on  the  same  spot  once 
occupied  by  General  Jackson  in  J813. 

Crossing  Elk  river  to  Smith's  farm,  on  the  4th  of  August, 
thousands  of  citizens  from  the  surrounding  country  came  in  and 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  old  flag. 

On  the  llth  and  12th  of  August  we  again  went  to  Hunts- 
ville  and  from  there  scoured  the  country  toward  Stevenson, 
Alabama,  where  we  arrived  on  the  16th,  having  captured  a  num 
ber  of  rebel  scouting  parties  that  had  recrossed  the  Tennessee 
river  to  watch  our  movements. 

The  rebel  pickets  are  in  plain  view  across  the  river. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

STEVENSON,      ALABAMA THE     ARMY      CONCENTRATING— HALF     IN 

HOSPITALS IMMENSE  DEPOT    OF    SUPPLIES OVER    MOUNTAIN 

AND   MOOR — SCOUTING  THROUGH  GEORGIA — CRAWFISH   SPRING 
"CHICAMAUGA. " 

During  the  latter  half  of  August,  1863,  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  drew  together  its  main  strength  at  and  near  Stev 
enson  and  Bridgeport,  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  extending  from 
Nashville  to  Chattanooga,  with  the  nearly  unfordable  Tennessee 
River  between  us  and  the  enemy,  and  no  bridge,  rail  or  other 
wise.  Here  General  Rosecrans  amused  himself  and  his  officers 
one  morning  by  coming  down  to  the  bank  of  the  river  and 
shouting  back  and  forth  inquiries  and  answers  about  "old 
Bragg"  and  "old  Rosy."  By  common  consent  both  sides  had 
ceased  firing  upon  the  other  so  long  as  each  remained  on  his 
own  side  and  made  no  hostile  demonstrations.  The  soldiers  had 
.learned  to  look  upon  picket  firing  as  a  species  of  murder  which 
they  had  no  heart  to  indulge  in,  and  an  armed  silence  was  main 
tained.  But  as  soon  as  our  pontoons  were  ready  our  guns  were 
placed  to  cover  the  opposite  landing.  With  darkness  came  the 


138  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

cannonading  at  Bridgeport,  and  we  knew  they  were  laying  the 
pontoon  bridge,  and  that  soon  we  must  cross  and  grapple  again 
with  the  enemy.  On  the  30th  the  Second  went  to  Bridgeport, 
but  was  not  needed  there  that  day,  and  returned,  going  into 
camp  at  Bolivar. 

September  came— dry,  hot,  dusty.  Nearly  one-third  the 
army  were  in  hospitals.  Half  demented  soldiers,  straying  from 
their  beds,  in  coarse  gowns,  came  wandering  through  the  forest 
camps;  sitting,  uninvited,  beside  our  camp  fires;  unfolding  piti 
ful  tales  of  imaginary  wrongs,  and  shivering  in  the  chill  morn- 
ing  air;  begging  for  a  cup  of  water,  and  swallowing  like  a. 
thirsty  child. 

"Bring  out  the  stretcher,  boys— more  blankets;  there,  carry 
him  back  to  the  hospital." 

And,  as  strong  arms  bear  him  gently  away,  eye  meets  eye, 
and  we  realize  that  rough  soldiers  sometimes  have  hearts  of 
women.  Sympathy  chokes  off  conversation,  and  every  man 
feels  that  there  are  greater  enemies  to  human  life  than  bullets. 

The  army  had  entire  confidence  in  General  Rosecrans,  and 
they  felt  that  when  he  moved  again  it  would  be  to  a  sure  vic 
tory,  and  it  was  understood  that  we  were  to  be  reinforced  by  a 
good  strong  corps  from  the  Potomac,  that  was  to  join  us  by 
way  of  Knoxville,  and  that  Generals  Granger  and  Crittenden, 
with  their  corps,  were  to  go  up  the  river  and  cross  at  Chatta 
nooga,  while  the  main  portion  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
drew  the  enemy  out  of  their  fortifications  by  attacking  their 
rear.  The  plan  was  undoubtedly  well  laid,  but  Bragg  had  it 
figured  differently,  and  came  the  nearest  to  carrying  out  his 
plans.  He  retired  from  the  Tennessee,  even  to  abandoning  the 


IN    THE    WEST.  139 

fortifications  of  Chattanooga,  before  he  was  pressed.  Could  he 
have  cooped  up  Rosecrans  in  Chattanooga,  as  he  had  hoped  to 
do,  with  the  aid  of  Longstreet's  corps  from  the  Potomac,  he  could, 
perhaps,  have  recrossed  the  Tennessee,  with  his  cavalry,  cut  our 
communications  and  made  it  exceedingly  interesting  for  Rose 
crans,  and  possibly  crushed  him  or  sent  him  flying  north  and 
westward.  This  was  undoubtedly  his  plan.  How  the  two 
Generals'  plans  were  both  declared  "off,"  the  country  has  seen. 

Bragg  reported  to  Richmond  that  the  Federals  were 
attempting  to  cut  his  communications  with  Atlanta,  his  real  base 
of  supplies,  and  the  movement  of  Federal  cavalry  to  a  point 
near  Rome,  Georgia,  certainly  had  that  look;  therefore  he  was 
in  a  measure  compelled  to  retire  from  Chattanooga. 

General  Rosecrans  has  never  received  that  credit  which  was 
his  due  for  that  part  of  the  great  military  move  upon  the 
national  chess-board.  By  it  he  really  out-generaled  Bragg,  but 
as  the  move  continued  events  clearly  showed  Ijiat  he  had  over 
reached  his  mark  in  permitting  McCook  and  Crittenden  to 
become  too  far  removed  from  his  center,  "The  Rock  of  Chica- 
mauga" — General  Thomas — around  whom  the  fate  of  the  nation 
hung  trembling  in  the  balance  for  forty-eight  hours. 

But  let  us  not  anticipate,  but  to  our  part  in  this  very  excit 
ing  campaign. 

On  the  1st  day  of  September  a  part  of  our  regiment  and 
brigade  forded  the  Tennessee  river,  near  Stevenson,  in  the  face 
of  a  scattering  fire  from  the  enemy.  Another  portion  crossed  on 
the  pontoon  bridge  at  Bridgeport,  and  marching  down  the  rive  r 
the  regiment  camped  near  Caperton's  Spring,  at  the  foot  of 
Sand  mountain,  where  we  remained  until  the  3d,  giving 


140  HUNDRED     HATTLKS 

the  army  a  chance  to  cross,  when,  everything  being  in  readi 
ness,  we  began  the  ascent  of  Sand  mountain — half  a  mile 
high,  and  we  found  more  rock  than  sand,  with  very  steep 
roads — in  fact,  almost  impassable  for  wagon  trains.  And  while 
powerful  mule  teams  drew  themselves  blind,  big,  burly  drivers 
shouted  themselves  hoarse  or  bent  their  backs  at  the  wheels. 
It  seemed  a  wicked  abuse  of  horse  and  mule  flesh,  and 
the  oaths  hurled  out  upon  the  mountain  side  did  full  justice  to 
the  M.-D.s'  reputations,  but  were  powerless  to  hurry  along  the 
creeping  trains.  As  we  reached  the  top  and  paused  a  moment 
for  breath,  we  looked  back,  expecting  to  have  a  fine  view  of  our 
late  camping  ground  and  the  surrounding  valley,  with  the  river 
in  the  foreground;  but  a  fog  had  arisen,  and  only  its  creamy 
white  wave  floated  like  a  vast  sea  over  the  plain  below;  and 
from  out  its  depths  arose  the  faintest  rattle  and  rumble  of 
wagon  or  artillery  wheels,  and  we  knew  our  army  was  on  the 
move  and  there  was  business  ahead. 

Turning  our  horses'  heads  we  set  out  on  the  march  across 
the  mountain.  A  very  hard  march  up  hill  and  down,  through 
heat  and  dust,  and  across  Flat  rock  creek,  22  miles,  brought  us  to 
Will's  valley,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the  night,  having  only 
scant  forage  and  little  water,  and  the  mountain  air  crisp,  dry 
and  sharp.  Next  day  we  passed  over  Winston's  gap  and  into 
Little  Will's  valley,  camping  at  night  at  Allen's  farm. 

We  were  still  the  right  wing  of  Rosecrans's  army,  and  on 
the  6th  went  scouting  up  Little  Will's  valley  to  the  base  of 
Lookout  mountain,  as  far  as  Lebanon,  Alabama.  This  we  re 
member  as  a  delightful  valley,  with  clear  mountain  streams  and 
a  few  rich  plantations;  but  we  found  it  necessary  to  charge  upon 


IN    THE    WEST.  141 

rebel  cavalry  many  times  during  the  day,  and  the  heat  and  dust 
were  almost  insufferable;  but  the  enemy  retired  from  every 
position,  and  we  returned  to  camp  at  night,  white  with  dust  and 
streaked  with  sweat,  scarcely  able  to  distinguish  one  comrade 
from  another. 

September  9  we  again  ascended  Lookout  mountain  at  Valley 
Head,  and  crossing  over,  ten  miles  brought  us  to  Alpine,  in 
Broom  town  valley,  Georgia,  where  we  encamped.  During 
the  next  three  days  the  brigade  scouted  about  Melville  and  to 
wards  Rome,  Georgia,  capturing  small  scouting  parties  and  de 
stroying  the  saltpeter  works  in  the  way,  bringing  up  in  camp 
near  Summerville,  on  the  12th,  and  from  that  "deserted  village" 
towards  Lafayette,  on  the  13th,  where  we  dashed  upon  the 
enemy's  pickets,  capturing  and  pursuing  until  brought  up  short 
by  a  park  of  artillery,  stationed  near  a  division  of  infantry  which 
rapidly  formed  to  meet  us,  and  we  discovered  that  we  were  near 
the  headquarters  of  Bragg's  army.  Then,  having  accomplished 
the  object  of  our  mission,  we  countermarched  in  good  order, 
with  the  enemy  shelling  the  woods  in  our  rear,  but  doing  us  no 
harm. 

General  Crook  was  temporarily  in  command  of  the  cavalry 
and  was  with  this  expedition,  though  Colonel  Campbell  was  in 
command  of  the  brigade,  and  both  those  officers  and  their  staffs 
were  found  at  the  head  of  the  column  and  were-at  close  range 
when  the  artillery  opened  upon  them,  with  short  range  fuse 
shells,  grape  and  canister.  It  was  the  evident  intention  of  Gen 
eral  Crook  to  dash  in  as  near  the  center  of  the  rebel  army  as 
possible,  to  learn  something  of  their  strength  and  position,  and 
his  plans  were  carried  rut  most  admirably.  There  was  no  stop- 


142  H INDEED    BATTLES 

ping  to  deploy  and  skirmish,  no  time  for  throwing  out  flankers; 
but  the  brigade,  led  by  the  second  Michigan  with  Colonel 
Campbell  and  staff  at  their  head,  grasping  their  rifles,  revolvers 
or  sabers  in  one  hand,  and  reins  in  the  other,  dashed  forward, 
on  and  over  the  pickets,  yelling  like  wild  Comanches,  and  con 
tinued  their  wild  ride  for  more  than  a  mile  within  the  enemy's 
lines  until  halted  by  a  stronger  force. 

There  was'not  the  slightest  trace  of  fear  on  a  single  coun 
tenance  as  we  countermarched,  giving  every  trooper  a  chance  to 
meet  his  comrades  face  to  face,  and  all  seemed  to  have  enjoyed 
their  little  gallop  amazingly. 

Looking  back  to  that  scene,  and  remembering  that  the  com 
mand  was  not  large,  and  in  an  enemy's  country,  we  can  but  ad 
mire  (setting  aside  our  own  several  parts)  the  cool  boldness  of 
the  act.  For,  instead  of  wheeling  to  fly  for  their  lives  as  many 
a  command  had  done  under  anything  like  similar  circumstances, 
every  man  grasped  his  arms  with  a  firmer  grasp  and  coolly 
wheeled  his  horse  when  his  turn  came,  not  sooner,  and  took  up 
his  return  march  at  a  walk — ready  for  a  fight,  if  the  enemy  saw 
fit  to  pick  up  the  gauntlet  thrown  at  their  feet. 

Of  course  we  were  aware  that  we  had  stirred  up  a  hornets' 
nest,  and  would  doubtless  be  followed.  But  this  did  not  worry 
us,  for  we  had  left  a  good  road  up  the  mountains  in  our  rear  and 
could  reach  there  against  odds,  although  the  heat  and  dust  were 
very  disagreeable  companions. 

Returning  to  our  former  road  down  the  mountains,  we  as 
cended.  Looking  back  up  the  valley  we  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  clouds  of  dust  made  by  others  than  Yankees,  and  knew 
that  we  had  not  brought  it  all  away  with  us.  The  enemy  were 


IN    THE    WEST.  143 

looking  for  us  and  we  were  coolly  perched  on  the  mountain's 
brow,  enjoying  their  over  caution.  It  was  very  pleasant  where 
we  sat.  Fanned  by  the  gentle  mountain  zephyrs,  we  enjoyed  the 
scene  spread  out  miles  away  towards  Chattanooga,  and  rather 
enjoyed  seeing  others  take  a  hand  at  the  dust  and  heat.  But 
the  enemy  followed  us  only  a  mile  or  two  in  force,  and  we 
leisurely  went  into  camp  at  Will's  valley. 

The  16th,  at  noon,  found  us  again  refreshed  and  in  the  sad 
dle,  passing  through  Winston's  Gap,  Little  Will's  valley  and  up 
Lookout  mountain,  crossing  over  to  Dougherty's  Gap,  where  we 
arrived  late  in  the  evening — very  dark;  there  was  no  moon,  and 
the  stars,  obscured  by  a  hazy  atmosphere,  made  our  night  work 
extremely  hazardous  should  we  suddenly  come  upon  a  well 
organized  force  of  the  enemy,  but  we  believed  our  coast  clear 
and  found  it  so  as  we  went  sliding  down  the  steep  sides  of  a 
ravine  into  McLamore's  cove,  every  step  of  a  horse  covering 
ten  to  fifteen  feet,  with  the  loose  dirt  and  rocks  crumbling  and 
sliding  along  in  front  of  us,  behind  us  and  all  around  us,  and  as 
we  looked  back  to  wonder  if  every  horse  and  man  was  able  to 
keep  his  feet,  or  would  he  come  floundering  on  down  the  moun 
tain  side,  the  scene  became  one  of  intense  excitement;  but  we 
arrived  at  the  foot  without  serious  accident,  and  then  came  a 
gallop  of  a  mile  or  more  to  close  up  the  column ;  but  the  road 
was  good,  and  late  in  the  evening  we  bivouacked  for  the  night 
near  Cave  Spring  in  McLamore's  cove,  and  were  not  long  in 
finding  an  abundance  of  sweet  potatoes  to  piece  out  our  rations, 
which  had  been  getting  low  since  we  cut  loose  from  our  trains 
and  left  them  to  make  their  way  as  best  they  could  along  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  out  of  the  enemy's  grasp.  Here,  too, 


144  HUNDKKD     15ATT  !.!•> 

we  made  our  acquaintance  with  "goober  peas,"  "goobers,"  or 
peanuts,  and  were  glad  to  fill  up  with  almost  any  kind  of  raw 
fodder  if  we  could  not  get  it  cooked.  But,  thanks  to  a  generous 
commissary,  our  coffee  nearly  always  held  out  and  we  did  not 
really  suffer  the  pangs  of  hunger,  for  we  had  learned  to  live  for 
days  together  on  coffee,  if  bread  and  bacon  both  gave  out.  But 
here  were  sweet  potatoes,  to  us  as  rich  as  rare,  and  we  felt  happy 
around  our  late  camp  fire  over  a  steaming  cup  of  coffee,  a  corn 
pone  and  a  roasted  yam,  or  sweet  potato. 

These  bewildering  moves,  up  and  down  valleys,  over  moun 
tains,  through  coves  and  ravines,  back  and  forth,  losing  our 
points  of  compass  by  night  and  regaining  them  with  the  next 
move  by  daylight,  so  completely  turned  our  heads  that  we  lost 
all  desire  to  know  where  we  were  going  or  how  we  expected  to 
reach  there;  our  guides  and  our  commander  know  and  we  set 
tle  down  into  passive  obedience  and  the  Belief  that  we  shall  get 
"somewhere"  in  due  time.  It  may  be  to  the  land  "beyond  the 
river,"  but  we  don't  mean  it  shall  be  to  a  prison  pen. 

Our  movements  on  the  17th  and  18th  of  September  were  in 
the  vicinity  of  Cedar  Grove  church  and  Bailey's,  and  we  began 
to  smell  the  battle  "afar  off."  For,  occasionally  an  artillery 
skirmish,  away  to  the  left  towards  Chattanooga,  could  be  heard, 
and  we  afterwards  learned  that  Colonel  Minty  with  his  brigade 
was  there,  disputing  the  passage  of  Chicamauga  creek  at  Reed's 
bridge  and  Gordon's  mill.  We  were  still  on  the  right,  but  out 
lines  had  not  as  yet  had  time  to  sufficiently  concentrate  to  be  of 
assistance  to  each  other,  and  Bragg  had  intended  to  prevent 
such  concentration  by  throwing  Hood,  Walker,  Buckner  and 
Folk's  corps  against  our  right,  crushing  and  sweeping  up  the 


IN    THE    WEST.  145 

Chicamauga  to  Gordon's  mill.  He  had  the  men  to  have  done 
so,  but  he  also  had  the  disadvantage  of  being  the  attacking  party, 
and  all  along  our  line  of  scattered  forces  was  heard  some  of  the 
most  desperate  fighting  of  the  war,  when,  on  the  19th  of  Septem 
ber,  the  engagement  became  general. 

Without  attempting  to  enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  the 
great  battle  of  Chicamauga,  or  Crawfish  Spring,  it  is  proper  for 
abetter  understanding  of  the  part  taken  by  the  cavalry  to  look  at 
the  position  of  our  army  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  Sep 
tember. 

General  Crittenden  with  his  corps  occupied  a  position  to 
ward  the  center,  near  the  right,  at  Crawfish  Spring,  with  the 
left  stretching  away  up  the  valley,  across  Chicamauga  creek,  to 
wards  Chattanooga,  with  General  Granger  and  his  reserve  corps 
in  rear  of  the  left  near  Rossville,  with  one  brigade  of  cavalry. 
General  Minty's,  near  the  left,  and  the  rest  of  the  cavalry  corps 
near  the  right  wing.  In  our  front  was  General  Sheridan  with 
his  division  (third  division,  twentieth  army  corps),  who  was 
gradually  working  his  position  towards  the  left,  as  were  all  the 
Generals,  trying  to  contract  the  lines  to  be  within  supporting 
distance.  This  soon  left  the  cavalry  corps  without  infantry  in 
their  front,  some  little  distance  on  the  right;  but  as  Bragg  at 
tempted  to  throw  his  cavalry  on  the  right  flank  of  our  infantry 
they  (the  enemy)  found  a  force  they  were  ready  to  let  alone, 
and  we  held  our  position  all  day,  protecting  our  infantry  on 
their  right  from  being  attacked  on  their  flank  while  tbe  enemy 
were  unable  to  use  their  cavalry  against  our  infantry  in  any 
other  direction. 

The  rattle  of  musketry  had  increased  to  a  roar  in  one  con 
tinuous  sound.  The  thundering  artillery  shook  the  earth,  roll- 


146  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

ing,  trembling,  like  an  earthquake;  smoke  filled  the  air  and  shut 
out  the  combatants  from  each  other's  sight,  and  the  hospital 
corps  were  soon  busy  bringing  in  the  wounded  around  Crawfish 
Spring. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  it  was  quiet  along  the  line  until 
9  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  began  the  engagement  by  a  heavy 
assault  on  the  left  of  our  army,  General  Thomas's  corps,  and  by 
11  o'clock -the  engagement  became  general,  and  if  possible  more 
fierce  than  on  the  previous  day.  General  Thomas  was  standing 
up  to  the  main  part  of  the  rebel  army  at  the  center,  while  Sheri 
dan  and  Wood  were  rapidly  moving  to  the  left  to  join  him,  when 
the  enemy  came  up  through  an  unoccupied  space,  cutting  through 
General  Davis's  lines,  of  McCook's  corps,  when  General  Sheridan 
went  to  the  rescue,  and  that  part  of  the  field  was  fought  over  for 
the  third  time,  when  each  side  stood  looking  sullenly  across  the 
sanguinary  field  without  renewing  the  engagement. 

It  was  then  that  General  Sheridan  confirmed  his  fears  that 
he  was  cut  off,;but  he  succeeded  at  last  in  forming  a  junction  with 
General  Thomas.  General  Granger's  important  action  at  this 
juncture  will  be  found  in  Part  Second.  During  the  morning, 
struggle  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  the  Second  lost  some  valuable 
men;  among  them  Captain  James  G.  Hawley,  of  company  G, 
who  was  shot  from  his  horse  while  assisting  a  Kentucky  regi 
ment  in  forming  to  make  a  charge.  There  were  no  better  men  in 
the  service  than  Captain  Hawley. 

In  the  meantime  the  cavalry  remained  holding  their  posi 
tion  near  Crawfish  Spring  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
firing  grew  fainter,  and,  without  knowing  what  had  occurred  or 
being  able  to  communicate  with  the  infantry  to  our  left,  Colonel 


IX    THK    WEST.  14*7 

Campbell  took  his  brigade  to  the  left  and  rear,  and  to  the  left  of 
the  Dry  valley  road,  marching  rapidly  about  three  miles  from 
Crawfish  Spring,  when  we  came  to  an  open  piece  of  wood,  and 
there  burst  upon  our  startled  view  a  mass  of  officers,  soldiers  and 
camp  followers  in  thousands,  who  were  apparently  fleeing  from 
the  "wrath  to  come."  A  look  of  worn-out,  discouraged  fear 
was  upon  nearly  every  countenance.  Inquiring  the  cause  of  their 
panic  they  could  give  no  definite  account  of  what  had  happened, 
but  all  agreed  that  McCook's  corps  was  "knocked  into  pi"  and 
that  McCook  and  others  had  joined  Rosecrans  and  had  gone 
towards  Chattanooga. 

There  was  a  gap  in  the  road  just  ahead  where  a  regiment 
could  hold  their  own  against  10,000  men,  and  Campbell  at  once 
took  advantage  of  it.  Placing  a  straggling  section  of  artillery  in 
a  commanding  position,  with  his  cavalry  near  at  hand,  across  the 
road,  he  rapidly  formed  the  disorganized  fleeing  troops  into  com 
panies,  properly  officered,  though  made  up  of  men  from  all  the 
demoralized  regiments,  and  with  an  oath  declared  there  should 
be  no  "Bull  Run"  there,  and  before  dark  had  a  large  command 
of  the  flower  of  McCook's  army  marching  quietly  along,  guard 
ing  their  rear  and  flanks,  searching  for  General  Thomas,  whom 
Campbell  knew  to  be  second  in  command. 

After  dark  we  rode  along  the  rebel  front,  close  to  their 
camp  fires;  could  hear  their  conversation  and  see  them  getting 
their  suppers  as  quietly  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  We  fol 
lowed  their  line  until  midnight,  and  though  we  could  hear  that 
General  Thomas  was  near  us,  bivouacked  near  where  he  had  been 
fighting  all  day,  we  did  not  find  him,  but  lay  down  without  food 
or  fires,  though  the  night  was  frosty. 


148 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 


It  would  have  been  some  comfort  for  us  to  have  known  that 
our  trains  were  safe,  for  we  had  left  them  on  the  mountains, 
fifteen  miles  away,  unprotected.  But  they  were  looking  down 
upon  the  terrible  scenes  of  the  past  two  days  and  were  working 
toward  Chattanooga.  Next  morning  we  set  out  for  Chattanooga, 
where  the  army  had  preceded  us,  and,  on  getting  within  eight 
miles,  skirmished  with  the  enemy,  remaining  there  until  early  on 
the  morning  of  the  22d,  when  we  again  set  out,  with  the  enemy 
on  our  flanks  in  strong  force;  at  one  time  driving  us  up  the  side 


of  the  mountain,  where  we  were  fired  upon  from   the  valley   by 
the  artillery,  solid  shot  being  directed  especially   against  'Camp- 


IN  TUB   WEST.  149 

bell  and  staff;  but  we  came  down  again,  and  driving  back  a  line  of 
skirmishers  by  a  charge,  made  our  way  inside  the  fortifications 
and  across  the  river  by  a  ford  that  led  us  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  diagonally  across  the  Tennessee,  with  the  water  breast  high. 

It  has  been  claimed  by  Southern  writers  that  the  Confeder 
ates  here  fought  the  Union  forces  even-handed  and  whipped 
them.  The  facts  were  that  Rosecrans  had  but  55,000  men  on 
that  field  and  that  Bragg  had,  with  Longstreet's  reinforcements, 
nearly  70,000.  It  is  true  that  Thomas,  with  his  own  and  a  part 
of  Crittenden's  corps,  was  on  the  defensive,  but  take  from  Rose- 
crans's  army  half  of  McCook's  corps  and  the  greater  portion  of 
the  cavalry  who  were  not  within  proper  supporting  distance, 
but  were  striving  to  get  there,  and  we  must  admit  that  Thomas 
was  contending  against  fearful  odds.  For  while  Bragg  had 
several  divisions  that  he  could,  from  his  concentrated  position, 
throw  into  the  balance  against  either  wing  of  our  army, 
McCook's  corps  was  not  in  a  commanding  position,  but  must 
fight  wherever  he  happened  to  be  until  such  time  as  he  should 
close  up  to  the  left  upon  General  Thomas.  In  this  closing  up 
movement  Generals  Sheridan's,  Davis's  and  Wood's  divisions  were 
twice  caught  in  the  whirling  vortex  and  suffered  terribly,  but 
held  their  divisions  well  together  and  gave  the  enemy  such 
terrific  blows  that  even  Bragg  recoiled  when  asked  by  Longstreet 
to  give  him  a  division  from  their  left  and  he  would  crush 
Thomas's  left.  "No,"  said  Bragg,  "they  have  been  beaten  back 
BO  badly  they  would  be  of  no  service  to  you." 

Look  at  the  cost  in  men: 

KILLED.        WOUNDED.        MISSING.         TOTAL. 

Union  forces 1,687  9,394  5,255  16,336 

Confederate  forces 2,673          10,274  2,003  20,950 


150  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

We  had  been  compelled  to  retire  from  the  battle  field,  but 
we  held  the  key  to  the  South — Chattanooga. 

More  extended  research  shows  that  Crittenden  had  occupied  a  position  as  far  east 
as  Ringold,  and  that  Minty  had  insisted,  after  Crittenden  had  joined  Thomas,  that  a 
large  body  of  Confederates  were  moving  from  the  north  and  east  to  Bragg 's  support 
and  that  Rosecrans  refused  to  give  credit  to  the  report  even  at  the  moment  when 
Bragg's  right  was  within  striking  distance  between  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill  and  Reed's 
bridge.  Minty  had  been  reported  captured  beyond  Reed's  bridge,  and  that  catastro 
phe  was  only  averted  by  rapid  movements  and  desperate  fighting.  At  the  moment  of 
McCook's  disaster  Rosecrans  was  just  in  rear  of  McCook's  right— a  witness  to  that 
fierce  assault  by  the  enemy.  While  portions  of  Sheridan's  and  Davis's  divisions  had 
become  disorganized  and  were  seeking  by  a  circuitous  route  to  join  Thomas  or  reach 
Chattanooga,  the  main  portions  of  these  divisions  were  moving  in  comparatively  good 
order,  by  a  nearer  route  to  Thomas  and  Rossville,  and  that  Thomas  had  a  part  only  of 
his  own  corps,  and  parts  of  Crittenden's  and  McCook's  corps  in  his  immediate  command. 
Divisions  from  one  corps  were  at  one  time  hurrying  past  divisions  from  another  corps, 
eagerly  searching  for  points  where  they  were  most  needed. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

VKJTOBY      OUT     OF     DEFEAT — SOME  REFLECTIONS,     NOT     DESIGNED 

AS       CRITICAL GREAT       SOLDIERS WHEELER?S       RAID 1,000 

WAGONS       BURNED A    WILD       CHASE CAMP  LIFE A     FERRY 

DISASTER. 

If  we  study  carefully  the  lives  of  all  great  soldiers  there  is 
but  one  conclusion — no  military  genius  ever  received  the 
plaudits  of  his  countrymen  without  deserving  them.  Mistakes 
may  occur,  but  the  genius  is  there  and  will  assert  itself.  If  he 
is  successful  in  one  campaign  and  the  victim  of  disaster  after 
wards,  it  is  more  than  probable  the  fault  could  be  traced  to 
another's  doings  in  part. 

General  Rosecrans's  career  shows  him  to  have  possessed 
many  of  these  qualities  which  go  to  make  up  the  great  soldier. 
But  his  conduct  of  the  battle  of  Chicamauga  clear-ly  showed 
him  to  be  possessed  of  one  element  that  amounted  to  weakness 
— hastily  formed  planning  without  positive  assurance  that  the 
material  in  men  and  means  would  be  at  hand — to  carry  out  his 
plans.  lie  placed  too  great  reliance  upon  his  corps  commanders, 
evidently  thinking  them  all  as  good  as  Thomas,  who  stood  with 


152  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

his  men  well  in  hand,  his  ground  selected  and  studied  carefully, 
and  he  was  prepared  to  resist  and  did  successfully  withstand  the 
assaults  of  many  times  his  own  numbers  hurled  against  him. 

Rosecrans  ordered,  and  had  a  right  to  expect,  that  the 
several  corps  would  close  up  to  the  left,  provided  the  distance 
was  not  too  great.  There  probably  lay  his  fatal  error;  his  army 
was  covering  too  much  front  to  be  readily  closed  to  the  left. 

General  Sheridan's  heroic  efforts  in  that  direction  proved 
this;  and  after  all  the  service  the  cavalry  had  done  in  discover 
ing  the  enemy's  position,  their  further  service  was  considered  of 
secondary  importance.  To  guard  the  right  flank  was  important, 
but  they  were  ready  and  anxious  to  do  more,  and  were  kept 
further  to  the  right  than  they  were  actually  needed.  Campbell's 
discovery  in  the  afternoon  proved  that,  and  had  Colonel  Camp 
bell  with  his  brigade  been  ordered  earlier  to  the  assistance  of 
McCook  that  general  might  have  been  spared  the  humiliation  of 
so  crushing  a  defeat.  There  was  cavalry  enough  on  the  right 
without  Campbell,  and  that  good  strong  brigade  of  cavalry 
thrown  into  the  fight  at  the  prope*  moment  must  have  had  a 
telling  effect. 

let,  after  all,  the  prize  which  Kosecrans  had  in  view- 
Chattanooga— was  ours;  though  at  what  terrible  cost — 16,336 
men,  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  50  pieces  of  artillery  lost. 
Those  were  the  figures,  and  the  Confederate  loss  was  probably 
more  than  20,000,  as  they  were  the  assailants;  but  their  loss  in 
artillery  was  less  than  ours. 

Bragg  had  figured  to  crush  Rosecrans's  army  and  return  to 
Chattanooga;  he  had  failed,  and  by  that  failure  had  lost  the  key 
to  the  South.  Who  was  the  victor?  The  country  will  not 


TENNESSE"  fi'\  .^ 

I(.  l..,**^      N 


CHICAMAUGA. 


IX    THE    WEvST.  153 

judge  too  harshly,  but  they  cannot  forget  that  Rosecrans  left 
the  field,  at  Garfi eld's  suggestion,  for  Thomas  and  Granger  to 
fight  it  out,  and  well  did  they  do  it,  regardless  of  personal 
danger. 

Granger  lost  his  adjutant-general  and  wept,  though  bullets 
were  rending  his  clothing  and  tore  his  hat  from  his  head. 
That  was  his  best  fight  of  the  war,  and  the  reserve  corps  cover 
ed  themselves  with  glory. 

Sheridan's  division  of  4,000  men  lost  1,492,  including  96 
officers,  and  the  second  Michigan  again  could  point  with  pride 
to  their  old  colonels,  though  the  regiment's  part  in  this  great 
battle  had  not  been  a  prominent  one;  still  it  had  skirmished  all 
day,  and  lost  some  valuable  men  and  officers. 

When  our  army  were  all  within  the  fortifications  of  Chat 
tanooga  many  soldiers  appeared  to  think  the  rebels  capable  of 
retaking  the  place,  but  those  who  had  seen  the  heavy  fighting 
did*  not  feel  so.  They  knew  the  enemy  had  been  severely  pun 
ished,  and  they  felt  that  with  our  army  concentrated  behind 
•earthworks  Bragg  could  never  enter.  He  did  not  try  seriously. 
He  knew  better,  but  made  a  show  of  attack  by  dropping  a  few 
harmless  shells  into  our  works  and  looked  on  sullenly. 

Our  first  duty  was  the  protection  of  our  communications,  and 
the  regiment  and  brigade  moved  back  a  few  miles  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Tennessee  to  be  in  readiness  to  strike  wherever 
needed,  camping  near  Severly  Springs  a  few  days,  finding  a 
moderate  amount  of  forage  and  recruiting  our  strength  in 
horses  and  men  for  the  next  move,  which  we  had  no  doubt 
'would  come  soon  enough;  and  it  came,  on  the  26th.  Moving 
vdown  the  river  to  Bridgeport,  and  to  Stevenson  on  the  27th, 


154  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

passing  on  to  Pump  Spring,  we  remained  until  October  2d;  the 
enemy  trying  to  cross  several  times,  and  were  driven  back;  but 
Frank  Wheeler  succeeded  in  getting  across  at  some  other  point 
above,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2d  we  were  ordered  to 
report  to  Colonel  Ed.  McCook,  in  Sequatchie  valley,  without  de 
lay.  We  started  at  once,  passing  through  Bridgeport  and  Jas 
per,  marching  all  night  and  until  about  ten  o'clock  next  day, 
but  were  too  late  to  prevent  the  disaster  to  our  trains  or  even 
help  stir  them  up  while  enjoying  their  short  lived  fun.  The 
seventh  Pennsylvania  and  second  Indiana  had  started  from 
Bridgeport  and  had  that  much  the  advantage  of  us,  and  came 
down  upon  Wheeler's  cavalry  while  they  were  at  their  work  of 
destruction.  They  had  succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  General 
Rosecrans's  supply  trains  of  nearly  1,000  wagons  loaded  with 
provisions  and  ammunition,  when  General  Crook  attacked  them 
and  routed  them. 

This  was  a  heavy  loss  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
(for  they  were  on  short  rations)  and  Wheeler  thought,  no 
doubt,  that  it  would  be  a  serious  blow;  but,  poor  fool,  he 
did  not  realize  that  we  had  wagons  and  mules  by  the  thou 
sands,  in  reserve  at  Nashville,  with  provisions  and  ammu 
nition  stacked  up  by  the  acre  in  sheds  and  ware-houses,  and 
that  within,  twenty-four  hours  after  the  burning  of  those 
trains,  others  were  on  the  way.  But  Wheeler  had  no  desire  to 
stand  and  fight,  but  immediately  got  out,  the  only  way  open  to 
him — up  the  mountain  and  away  to  the  southward,  with  our  cav 
alry  pouring  into  the  valley  by  three  different  roads,  and  Gen 
eral  Crook  pressing  him  hotly  in  the  rear.  On  the  morning  of 


IN  THE  WEST.  155 

the  4th  (October)  we  crossed  the  mountain  at  Kane  Gap,  and  at 
ten  A.  M.  of  the  5th  reached  McMinnville,  passing  on  through 
Woodbury,  having  made  fifty-five  miles  in  twenty-four  hours, 
and,  marching  all  night  again,  we  reached  Murfreesboro  at  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  where  we  drew  rations  and 
again  joined  in  the  chase  toward  Shelbyville,  resting  for  a  few 
hours  at  Guy's  Gap. 

General  Crook  had  caught  up  with  Wheeler  on  the  8th 
and  captured  several  hundred  prisoners,  sending  him  flying 
south.  The  Second  joined  in  the  chase  again,  and  passing  on 
rapidly,  often  galloping  for  miles  together,  with  the  mud  and 
water  flying  furiously,  passed  through  Rainy  Spring,  Louis- 
burg  and  Connersville,  and  on  the  9th  passed  through  Pulaski 
and  on  to  Lamb's  Ferry,  twenty-four  miles  above  Florence, 
where  Wheeler  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  artillery  and  the 
wagons  he  was  trying  to  carry  away  with  him  and  also  lost 
heavily  in  prisoners  and  deserters.  On  the  whole  the  Wheeler 
raid  was  a  losing  game  to  the  Confederates,  without  an  equiva 
lent.  It  was  a  daring  act  crossing  the  river,  and  had  the  cavalry 
been  united  earlier  Wheeler  could  not  have  passed  out  of 
Sequatchie  valley.  Once  out  of  there,  he  had  us  at  a  disadvan 
tage,  and  kept  it,  on  a  wild  chase  of  300  miles  in  nine  days,  much 
of  the  distance  being  over  rough,  mountainous  roads,  and  the 
usual  "after  the  battle  rains"  having  fallen,  softening  the 
valleys,  made  our  progress  difficult,  not  to  mention  the  disagree- 
ableness  of  Tennessee  mud.  Wheeler's  cavalry  must  have  suf 
fered  worse  than  ours,  for  our  brigades  took  turns  at  the  front 
attending  to  the  "lively"  business,  while  poor  Wheeler's  men 
dropped  out,  with  broken  down  horses,  all  along  the  way. 


156  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

These  men  were  generally  given  an  impromptu  "iron-clad 
oath,"  often  at  the  hands  of  some  wag  who  was  in  too  much  of 
a  hurry  to  attend  to  prisoners,  and  told  to  go  home  and  enjoy 
themselves  "till  the  war  was  over."  Many  of  them  were  glad  of 
the  opportunity,  while  others  probably  found  their  way  back 
into  the  Confederate  army.  But  all  larger  bodies  of  them  were 
cared  for  and  sent  to  Nashville. 

For  more  than  a  month,  since  the  forward  move  on  Chat 
tanooga,  the  Second  had  been  without  tents,  on  short  rations, 
marching  night  and  day,  much  of  the  time  over  rough,  moun 
tainous  roads,  with  dust  and  mud,  heat,  rain  and  cold  alternat 
ing  in  quick  succession,  and  both  horses  and  men  were  in  a 
worn-out  condition.  Therefore  we  were  prepared  to  appreciate 
a  leisurely  march  from  Rodgersville,  on  the  10th,  to  Athens, 
Huntsvilie  and  New  Market,  by  the  13th,  where  we  learned  that 
Roddy's  brigade  of  cavalry  had  crossed  the  Tennessee  below 
Huntsvilie,  and  away  we  went  in  pursuit  of  him;  but  he  made 
no  stand,  was  soon  across  the  river  again,  and  we  were  left  in 
undisputed  possession  of  that  territory,  camping  first  at  Kelly's 
mill,  on  Barren  fork  of  Flint  river,  but  for  nearly  a  month  from 
the  20th  of  October  we  remained  near  Winchester,  Tennessee, 
resting  and  recruiting  for  another  campaign. 

General  Rosecrans  was  relieved  about  this  time  and  went  to 
Cincinnati,  and  many  regrets  were  expressed  at  his  misfortune, 
for  we  had  become  very  much  attached  to  him. 

Our  stay  at  Winchester  was  made  quite  agreeable  to  us, 
not  only  by  the  few  Union  people  there,  but  Southern  sympa 
thizers  often  inviting  officers  and  soldiers  to  their  homes  to  din 
ner  and  tea,  spreading  their  tables  at  such  times  with  the  best 
the  land  afforded. 


IN    THE    WEST.  157 

We  lived  in  our  tents,  and  had  time  for  wearing  blacked 
boots  and  "boiled"  shirts — almost  forgotten  luxuries.  Neglected 
reports  and  unanswered  letters  were  attended  to,  and  the  pay 
master,  Holloway,  made  his  rounds.  Fresh  horses  and  new  uni 
forms  were  added,  and  once  more  we  "played"  soldier  at  dress 
parade  and  inspection,  General  Grant  calling  to  inspect  us  on  his 
way  to  assume  command  of  this  army,  now  further  strengthened 
by  the  addition  of  Hooker's  corps. 

It  now  became  evident  that  a  vigorous  campaign  was  to  be 
carried  on  all  winter,  and  a  part  of  this  came  to  us  by  an  order, 
November  16th,  to  swing  through  middle  Tennessee,  by  way  of 
Shelbyville  and  Murfreesboro,  on  our  way  to  northern  and  east 
ern  Tennessee.  The  country  was  nearly  stripped  of  live  stock, 
but  our  foragers  brought  in  400  bushels  of  wheat,  65  head  of 
beef  cattle,  500  to  600  head  of  sheep,  besides  horses  and  mules 
in  one  day,  and  we  reached  Murfreesboro  on  the  18th  of 
November,  1863. 

Here  our  division  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Brigadier- 
General  Ed.  McCook,  and  General  Stanley,  retiring  from  the 
cavalry,  was  superseded  by  General  W.  L.  Elliott,  who  com 
manded  us  the  year  previous  at  Corinth  and  Blackland.  These 
changes  being  completed  the  cavalry  moved,  on  the  20th,  halting 
for  a  night  at  Milton  and  five  days  at  Liberty. 

The  weather  was  now  cold  and  rainy,  but  did  not  prevent 
our  forward  movement,  on  the  28th,  of  twenty  miles,  and  next 
day  was  made  that  memorable  crossing  of  the  Rainy  fork  of 
the  Cumberland  river,  swollen  to  a  rushing  torrent. 

Men  will  stand  up  and  be  shot  without  flinching,  but  to  see 
comrades  helplessly  drown  before  their  eyes  moves  the  inner- 


158  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

most  heart.  How  pitiless  that  cold  drizzling  rain.  How  frail  a 
craft  for  a  division  of  cavalry  to  cross  on.  Only  a  flatboat, 
that  ten  horses  would  settle  down  to  the  water's  edge,  a  craft 
which  the  least  move  would  swamp;  everything  covered  with  ice 
and  next  to  impossible  for  horses  or  men  to  keep  their  feet.  If 
he  lost  his  feet  and  went  over — a  splash,  a  cry,  and  he  was  gone. 
And  so  we  lost  eight  men — a  small  number  to  have  lost  in  bat 
tle,  but  a  very  large  number  to  lose  in  such  a  manner.  It  was 
the  saddest  day  of  all  our  army  experience.  But  at  last  the 
command  was  over,  and  went  into  camp  at  Sparta,  near  the 
Cumberland  mountains,  in  middle  Tennessee,  directly  east  of 
Nashville. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

EAST  TENNESSEE CLIMBING  THE  CUMBERLAND BUSHWHACKERS 

"DANDRIDGE  RACES" — A  LIVELY  CAMPAIGN  AND  MANY  HARD 
SHIPS. 

"Shall  we  ever  get  through  with  climbing  mountains  ?" 
remained  an  unanswered  question  as  the  regiment  set  out  at 
daylight  on  the  8th  of  December  from  Sparta  to  cross  the  Cum 
berland  by  a  steep  wagon  road. 

Next  to  rebel  prison  pens  the  meanest  thing  ever  en 
couraged  by  the  Confederates  was  guerrilla  warfare.  Many  of 
their  own  officers  were  ashamed  of  it  and  stoutly  denied  any 
knowledge  of  the  bands  that  infested  the  mountain  countries  of 
Tennessee.  They  were  too  cowardly  to  stand  up  shoulder  to 
shoulder  and  face  an  honorable  foe  in  common  warfare,  and 
were  a  disgrace  to  the  army  whose  cause  they  pretended  to  es 
pouse. 

And  on  this  march  the  command  was  terribly  annoyed,  on 
flank  and  rear,  by  parties  they  could  not  stop  to  fight,  and  we 
lost  some  good  men  while  going  over  the  mountain.  It  was 
murder,  nothing  but  murder. 


160  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

Our  sutler,  John  F.  Tinkham,  who  had  just  purchased  a 
large  stock,  was  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  regiment,  and  aban 
doning  his  wagon,  with  several  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  stockr 
was  glad  to  escape  with  his  life.  A  rather  decent  sort  of  sut 
ler  was  John,  and  the  boys  regretted  their  inability  to  render 
substantial  assistance,  forgetting  that  they  had  paid  him  a  good 
share  of  their  greenbacks  from  time  to  time  for  "truck"  that  they 
did  not  always  need,  at  the  usual  sutler's  "one  and  two  per 
cent."  prices.  But  his  big  wagon,  full  of  shirts,  knick-knacks, 
underwear,  gloves,  canned  stuff  and  bottled  "chain  lightning," 
was  soon  riddled,  and  as  John  stood  on  the  top  of  that  moun 
tain  and  looked  back  at  the  despoilers  and  their  work,  he  waved 
his  hand,  telling  them  to  help  themselves,  and  turned  sadly  away. 

The  regiment  crossed  the  Cumberland  mountains,  passing 
down  the  east  side  near  Crossville,  reaching  Kingston  on  the 
12th,  camping  for  the  night  without  food,  or  forage  for  the 
horses,  but  succeeded  next  day  in  finding  both  food  and  forage 
in  the  vicinity,  and  after  a  two  days'  rest  moved  on,  through 
mud  and  cold  rain,  to  Knoxville,  arriving  on  the  loth,  and  on 
the  16th  went  on  to  Pryor's  ferry  into  camp.  The  earthworks 
around  Knoxville  showed  the  fresh  marks  of  Burnside's  recent 
fight  with  Longstreet,  who  had  been  besieging  Knoxville,  but 
who  had  received  some  severe  blows  and  was  now  at  a  respectful 
distance.  Here,  too,  we  met  our  old  friend,  General  S.  P. 
Carter,  of  "Carter's  raid"  fame;  and  resurrected  Parson  Brown- 
low,  whose  son  Jim  was  a  colonel  of  one  of  our  regiments — the 
first  East  Tennessee  cavalry,  many  of  whom  were  at  home  here^ 
The  Parson  came  out  and  received  a  hearty,  old-fashioned:, 
military  salute  with  a  "tiger." 


IN    THE    WEST.  161 

On  the  17th  the  brigade  marched  through  Strawberry 
Plains,  and,  fording  the  Holston  river,  camped  at  Houslcy's. 
The  fording  of  the  Holston  was  a  very  cold  bath;  horses  and 
men  coming  out  of  the  water  shaking  as  if  caught  in  the  death 
like  grip  of  a  Kansas  ague.  But  the  march  to  Richland  creek 
and  return  warmed  them  up  a  bit  and  they  went  into  camp  to 
make  themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible  until  the  23d,  when 
they  moved  to  New  Market.  Here  some  changes  occurred  in 
our  division,  being  known  thereafter  as  the  first  division,  under 
General  Ed  McCook,  with  General  S.  D.  Sturgis  in  command  of 
all  the  cavalry  of  East  Tennessee,  Colonel  Campbell  continuing 
in  command  of  the  first  brigade  (second  Michigan,  ninth  Penn 
sylvania  and  first  East  Tennessee)  and  Colonel  Lagrange,  of  the 
first  Wisconsin  cavalry,  commanding  the  second  brigade  (first 
Wisconsin,  second  and  third  Indiana  cavalry),  and  they  were  all 
good  fighting  regiments. 

And  now  began  that  memorable  East  Tennessee  campaign, 
with  Major  L.  S.  Scranton  in  command  of  our  regiment.  On 
the  23d  the  brigade  moved  out  of  New  Market,  camping  for  the 
night  at  Broughton's,  on  the  Dandridge  road.  By  3  o'clock  next 
morning  "Boots  and  saddles"  brought  every  man  and  horse  into 
line  and  soon  on  the  road  to  Dandridge;  skirmishing  and  driving 
the  enemy  through  that  place.  At  9  A.  H.  our  brigade  was 
joined  by  Colonel  Capron,  of  Ohio,  with  his  brigade.  The 
enemy  were  quite  strong  in  front,  but  the  second  Michigan 
drove  in  their  skirmishers,  chasing  them  three  miles.  Colonel 
Capron  took  a  left  hand  road  which  diverges  from  the  main 
easterly  road  from  Dandridge,  Colonel  Campbell  taking  the 
right  hand  road  which  passes  near  the  French  Broad  river.  It 


162 


HUNDRED    IJA'l  I  LES 


was  understood  tliat  should  anything  special  occur  they  were  to 
give  each  other  notice.  In  fact  Colonel  Capron,  being  the  rank 
ing  officer,  sent  to  Colonel  Campbell  written  instructions  to 
press  the  enemy  on  the  right  hand  road  while  he  (Capron)  would 
keep  within  supporting  distance  on  the  left.  The  enemy  pre- 


DANDEIDGE. 

sented  a  strong  skirmish  line  and  the  Second  was  immediately 
placed  at  the  front,  driving  the  enemy  successfully,  with  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  mounted,  supporting  the  Second 
in  the  rear  and  on  the  flanks,  and  company  D  of  the  Second 
acting  as  rear  guard;  a  part  of  the  first  battalion  remained  near 
the  rear  supporting  a  part  of  our  artillery,  while  two  pieces  were 
taking  position  at  the  front.  The  Second  had  found  the  enemy 
in  force  and  did  not  attempt  to  go  further  than  a  little  ridge  or 


IN    THE    WEST.  163 

range  of  hills,  but  gave  place  to  the  artillery  to  shell  the  enemy 
from  the  ridges,  in  front  of  which  the  enemy  were  beginning 
to  show  considerable  strength,  as  if  expecting  a  general  engage 
ment.  When  our  mounted  men  charged  the  enemy  they  dis 
covered  the  strength  of  the  force  at  the  front  and  knew  that  we 
must  fall  back  soon.  The  Confederate  artillery  immediately 
opened,  and  their  cavalry  followed  ours  as  ours  retired. 

Colonel  Campbell  had  heard  nothing  from  Colonel  Capron, 
and  began  to  feel  anxious  about  his  supporting  force.  He  at 
once  dispatched  couriers  across  to  Colonel  Capron,  supposed  to 
be  half  a  mile  or  a  mile  away  to  the  left  on  the  other  road,  but 
no  word  was  returned,  and  he  then  sent  a  staff  officer  with  escort, 
to  find  out  if  his  support  was  all  right.  None  of  them  returned, 
but,  instead,  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry  charged  down  on  our  rear, 
driving  in  the  rear  guard,  preceded  by  ambulances,  led  horses 
mules,  cooks  and  camp  followers  in  a  badly  demoralized  con 
dition.  Pots  and  frying  pans,  coffee  cups,  tin  dishes  and  all 
the  rattle-traps  of  a  company  cook's  paraphernalia  flying  in  the 
air,  as  frightened  black  faces,  mostly  noticeable  for  the  glaring 
expanse  of  white  eyes,  came  tearing  down  upon  the  front — a 
position  entirely  new  to  most  of  them — provoking  a  roar  of 
laughter  at  the  first  appearance,  in  spite  of  the  grim  surround 
ings. 

The  situation  was  truly  appalling.  A  large  force  in  our 
front  and  a  force  equal  to  if  not  larger  than  our  own  in  rear. 
Charging  on  over  the  camp  followers  they  captured  the  two 
pieces  of  artillery  that  had  not  been  taken  into  action  and  were 
sabering  the  artillerymen  and  dragging  away  the  guns.  Then 
Major  Smith  with  his  battalion  turned  upon  them  and  met  them 


164  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

with  a  murderous  fire,  at  the  same  time  requesting  a  portion  of 
the  ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  mounted  near  by,  to  charge, 
which  they  did  handsomely,  the  lieutenant  in  command  losing 
his  life  by  the  charge,  and  the  enemy  were  driven  away  from 
the  artillery  and  back  a  half  mile.  In  the  meantime  Major 
Scranton,  with  the  main  portion  of  the  Second,  dismounted,  was 
stubbornly  holding  the  enemy  at  the  front  in  check,  when  he 
received  an  injury  in  the  foot.  Colonel  Campbell  directed  the 
regiment  to  form  a  new  line  to  the  left  and  fall  back  in  good 
order,  assuring  the  major  that  he  (Campbell)  would  soon  find 
a  position  from  which  they  could  check  the  enemy,  and  give  the 
dismounted  men  relief. 

There  was  no  road  to  the  left,  but  Campbell,  with  the 
mounted  portion  of  the  brigade  and  his  artillery,  found  a  way, 
through  hills,  ridges  and  woods,  but  had  scarcely  succeeded  in 
getting  his  column  moving  when  the  enemy  came  down  upon 
that  little  band  of  dismounted  cavalrymen  before  they  had 
swung  into  their  new  line  of  march.  The  position  was  most 
desperate.  Less  than  1,500  men",  one  third  of  them  dismounted, 
surrounded  on  three  sides  by  brigades  of  cavalry,  with  mounted 
infantry  coming  to  their  assistance.  Led  >  horses,  ambulances 
and  camp  followers  were  in  the  way,  while  continuous  charges  of 
cavalry  were  made  upon  right,  left  and  rear.  But  every  foot  of 
ground  was  contested,  and  nobly  did  the  revolving  rifles  respond 
to  the  work;  retiring,  fighting  overall  that  mile  or  more  until 
the  woods  were  cleared,  and  across  a  field,  over  the  creek,  a 
bloody  battle  every  inch,  with  most  of  our  wounded  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  One  piece  of  artillery  broke  down  here 
and  was  abandoned.  This  was  recaptured  at  Fair  Garden.  It 
was  a  portion  of  the  eighteenth  Ohio. 


IN    THE    WEST.  165 

When  the  Confederates  came  yelling  out  of  the  woods,  ex 
pecting  an  easy  victory  in  an  open  field,  our  own  artillery,  wel 
come  sound,  opened  with  grape  and  canister,  and  the  slaughter 
was  severe.  Our  cavalry  then  gave  them  a  parting  charge  just 
as  the  darkness  began  to  apprise  us  of  the  fact  that  we  had  been 
more  than  two  hours  in  making  that  two  miles;  but  the  com 
mand  retired  to  New  Market  without  further  molestation.  We 
had  lost  heavily  in  officers  and  men,  though  our  loss  was  probably 


CAPTAIN  J.    H.  SMITH. 

trifling  as  compared  with  that  of  the  enemy.  Here  Captain 
J.  II.  Smith  received  a  fracture  of  the  thigh  by  a  musket  ball, 
which  left  him  on  the  field  all  night,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Captain  T.  W.  Johnston  was  also  wounded  in  the  leg,  but  was 
assisted  away.  In  all  forty-two  men  were  killed,  wounded  or 
missing — just  the  number  at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  in  an  all 
day's  fight. 

The  regiment  had  been  in  many  tight  places,  but  this  was 
the  nearest  to  a  capture  they  had  ever  experienced. 

It  was  here  the  rebels  told  the  citizens  they  "did  not  like  to 
fight  the  second  Michigan.  They  loaded  their  guns  all  night 
and  fired  them  all  day." 


160  HUNDRED    JJA  I  1  LE8 

It  appears  that  no  one  was  really  at  fault  for  this  apparent 
blunder  of  leaving  a  brigade  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  to  fight 
their  way  out.  Colonel  Capron  received  orders  to  come  back 
from  his  expedition,  certain  knowledge  '^having  come  to  his 
superiors  that  made  the  further  advance,  or  reconnaissance,  both 
dangerous  and  unnecessary,  and  Colonel  Capron  was  directed  to 
notify  Colonel  Campbell  to  fall  back,  which  he  did,  or  supposed 
he  did,  by  sending  couriers  to  Campbell,  but  they  did  not  reach 
him;  neither  did  Colonel  Campbell's  couriers  reach  Capron;  there 
fore  it  was  simply  a  question  of  good  generalship,  whether  it  was 
the  right  thing  to  do — obey  orders  literally  and  return  to  New 
Market,  or  wait  until  he  knew  if  his  services  would  be  needed  in 
preventing  the  capture  of  Colonel  Campbell's  brigade.  For  no 
sooner  had  Capron  left  his  route  than  the  rebels  passed  in  to 
wards  Dandridge,  by  the  same  road,  and  came  up  in  Campbell's 
rear,  before  he  had  any  intimation  of  their  being  there.  For  this 
stubborn  fight,  the  'otficers  and  men  were  highly  complimented 
in  general  orders.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  dispatch 
to  General  Foster,  commanding  the  department: 

December  24,  1863,  8:30  p.  M., 

*  Colonel  Campbell  deserves  great  credit  for  the  masterly 
manner  in  which  he  extricated  himself.  * 

S.  D.  STURGIS, 
Brigadier-General,    Commanding  Cavalry  Corps. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MOSSY    CREEK A    TRICK    WHICH    DID    NOT    PAY A    FIGHT,    SHORT, 

SHARP,    DECISIVE AN    ARTILLERY    DUEL. 

Merry  Christmas  was  celebrated  about  as  soldiers  usually 
celebrate  when  there  is  business  on  hand — not  by  feasting  and 
drinking,  but  by  moving  towards  the  enemy,  to  meet  and  take 
the  chances  of  war.  Camp  was  pitched  at  or  near  Mossy  creek, 
and  near  here  until  the  29th  of  December  a  comparative  rest 
was  enjoyed. 

Then  the  second  brigade,  under  Colonel  Lagrange,  was 
ordered  to  move  to  Dand ridge  at  2  A.  M.  and  surprise  a  Confed 
erate  force  stationed  there.  The  report  proved  false,  having 
emanated  from  the  enemy  themselves,  as  a  ruse  to  divide  our 
cavalry  force,  and  to  that  extent  was  successful,  but  no  further. 
There  was  no  enemy  at  Dandridge,  but  if  they  supposed  the 
Second  would  be  sent  away  they  were  to  be  disappointed.  A 
full  half  mile  in  advance  of  all  our  troops  the  Second  had  been 
placed  in  camp — a  most  fortunate  thing  as  it  proved. 

The  morning  sun  came  out  clear  and  bright;  the  air  cool 
and  bracing,  giving  promise  of  a  glorious  winter's  day.  But 


168  II UNDUE D    BATTLES 

little  above  the  horizon  had  the  sun  climbed  when  our  pickets 
sent  in  word  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  in  force,  with  ten 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  the  report  was  immediately  followed  by 
the  retiring  of  our  advanced  guard,  and  close  behind  them  the 
enemy,  with  flags  waving,  arms  flashing  in  the  sunlight,  and 
the  steady  muffled  tramp  of  horsemen — in  numbers,  apparently, 
a  full  division  or  more.  Steadily  on  they  came,  as  if  a  review 
was  ordered,  or  perhaps  by  their  numbers  they  thought  to  ride 
over  an  awed,  insignificant  force. 

It  was  a  gallant  sight  and  provoked  admiration  from  the 
little  band  drawn  up  to  receive  them;  yet  the  feeling  was  not 
unmixed  with  pain  and  desperation.  "If  the  enemy  think  to 
drive  us  from  our  position  without  a  light  they  are  mistaken." 
Major  Ben  Smith  was  in  command  of  the  Second,  and  was  about 
to  open  fire  upon  the  enemy,  when  Colonel  Campbell,  command 
ing  the  brigade,  ordered  him  to  fall  back  upon  Mossy  Creek, 
covering  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  notifying  him  that  the 
ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  would  support  the  right  and  the 
first  Tennessee  the  left.  The  order  was  obeyed  quietly,  yet 
promptly,  realizing  that  Campbell  proposed  to  choose  his  own 
ground  this  time,  with  traps  barred  out. 

The  Second  had  fallen  back  to  a  large  brick  house,  at  which 
the  general  commanding  the  division,  McCook,  had  made  his 
headquarters,  when  the  Confederates  began  shelling  fiercely. 
The  air  seemed  filled  with  iron  missiles,  of  all  shapes  and  sizes 
— singing,  whirling,  whistling — with  that  peculiar  blood-curd 
ling,  flesh-rending  horror,  calculated  for  the  moment  to  chill  the 
hearts  of  the  oldest  veterans.  Then  was  realized  the  fact  that 
the  battle  was  sprung  upon  the  brigade  with  half  the  division 


IN  TIM:   WEST.  169 

away  on  a  "Tom  Fool's  errand."  Couriers  were  dispatched  in 
hot  haste  for  the  second  brigade  to  return;  but  there  was  little 
hope  of  their  doing  so  in  time  to  be  of  assistance. 

The  evolutions  of  the  enemy  were  rapid  and  precise.  Be 
fore  there  was  time  for  our  first  brigade  to  form  in  proper 
position  to  repel  a  charge  of  the  enemy,  their  artillery  ceased 
firing,  the  cloud  of  smoke  lifted,  and  out  from  the  white  float 
ing  veil,  at  a  mad  gallop  came  a  division  of  cavalry,  with  flanks 
well  supported,  sabers  drawn,  and  a  shout  of  expectant  victory 
bursting  from  their  throats.  Every  man  of  the  Second  cast  a 
hasty  look  at  his  revolving  rifle,  and  stood  silent,  firmly  grasp 
ing  his  beloved  weapon  that  had  stood  by  him  through  so  many 
a  desperate  onslaught. 

Nearer,  and  nearer,  until  it  seemed  as  if  the  little  band  of 
dismounted  men  would  be  swallowed  in  the  wild  whirlpool  of 
horsemen.  Not  a  shot  was  fired  until  the  word  was  given,  and 
when,  at  the  moment  of  greatest  excitement  it  seemed  impos 
sible  to  restrain  the  men  longer,  it  came.  "Ready,  Fire!" 
rang  simultaneously  with  a  roar  as  if  500  men  had  been  sud 
denly  transformed  into  3,000 — before  whose  unerring  volley  the 
best  horsemen  the  M'orld  ever  saw  could  not  stand.  They  halt, 
reel,  tremble,  break  and  fly  in  dire  confusion,  with  a  shower  of 
lead  cutting  sad  havoc  in  their  ranks. 

During  this  charge  a  portion  of  the  enemy  found  them 
selves  in  a  barnyard,  and  made  a  desperate  effort  to  dislodge 
Captain  Wells,  with  portions  of  companies  L  and  II,  partly 
concealed  behind  a  fence.  The  rano'e  was  short  and  few  of  the 

O 

enemy  escaped  from  that  pen  of  horrors,  but  were  piled  thick 
.upon  the  ground. 


170  IIUM>KI:I>    KATTLKS 

Here  Major  Smith's  horse  was  shot  under  him,  but  our  total 
casualties  (according  to  the  adjutant's  report)  was  but  eight, 
and  only  one  of  these  was  killed. 

After  their  repulse,  the  enemy  again  opened  a  most  terrific 
cannonade,  every  piece  of  artillery  belching  forth  shot  and  shell 
that  came  square  to  the  mark,  and  before  which  the  Second  fell 
back  to  a  better  position,  half  a  mile  in  rear  of  the  first,  partly 
sheltered  by  a  fence.  Yes,  a  fence,  for  the  Second  never  was 
ashamed  to  take  an  advantage  that  might  save  a  life  for  future 
usefulness.  "Stand  out  and  fight  if  they  must,  but  under  cover 
when  they  might,"  was  their  motto. 

Here  they  lay,  "under  cover,"  except  for  the  exploding 
shells  that  dropped  down  upon  them;  though  our  captain 
approached  the  major  commanding,  with  an  excusable  timidity, 
and  suggested  it  was  pretty  warm  at  his  position — "Shells  are 
dropping  pretty  thick;  I  fear  I  can't  hold  my  men  much  longer; 
too  monotonous,  lying  there  taking  all  their  old  iron  and  giving 
nothing  in  return." 

In  that  measured  tone,  so  well  known  to  all  of  us,  came  the 
answer: 

"The  shells  are  falling  pretty  thick  where  I  am,  but  I  guess 
we  will  stay  a  little  longer  unless  ordered  to  fall  back." 

The  order  soon  came  to  fall  back  and  form  on  the  left  of  a 
regiment  of  infantry  that  had  been  sent  to  our  support,  and 
scarcely  had  the  position  been  taken  when  one  of  the  sharpest 
artillery  duels  opened  that  we  had  ever  witnessed.  Ten  Con 
federate  guns  to  three  of  ours,  were  brought  up  to  within 
eighty  rods  of  each  other,  and  belched  forth  one  continuous 
storm  of  shot,  shell  and  grape. 


IN    THE    WEST.  171 

A  staff  officer  whose  duties  took  him  to  every  part  of  the 
field  says:  "Our  battery  stood  while  men  and  horses  were 
mowed  down.  The  commander,  pale  as  death,  issued  his  orders 
with  the  utmost  military  precision,  and  stood  his  ground  against 
more  than  twice  his  own  number  of  guns,  backed  and  encouraged 
by  repeated  charges  of  the  Confederate  cavalry." 

Captain  Weatherwax  received  a  dangerous  wound  in  the 
shoulder  from  a  mounted  Confederate  officer,  who  in  turn  fell 
from  his  horse  riddled  with  bullets. 


CAPT.  J.    M.    WEATHERWAX. 

One  Confederate  shot  killed  three  of  our  men  at  their  guns, 
but  others  took  their  places,  and  the  game  of  give  and  take  was 
carried  on  in  dead  earnest.  But  not  for  long.  The  enemy  had 
reckoned  upon  an  easy  victory  with  their  division  against  one 
brigade.  Time  was  passing,  and  whatever  was  to  be  done  must 
be  done  quickly.  Grape  shot  went  crashing  through  tree  tops. 
Shells,  exploding,  filled  the  air  again  with  their  infernal  music. 
Solid  shot  went  plowing  through  the  woods  and  fields,  yet  not  a 
gun  of  ours  was  silenced;  but,  above  this  deafening  roar  and 
crash,  that  well-known  rebel  yell  was  heard  again,  and  every 
man  knew  at  once  that  a  decisive  moment  was  at  hand. 


172  HUNDRED    BATTLKS 

Once  more  the  enemy's  artillery  paused,  as  if  for. breath,  and 
ere  the  smoke  had  cleared  away  they  came,  in  such  overwhelm 
ing  numbers  and  such  irresistible  force,  that  for  a  time  hope 
died  and  all  seemed  lost.  Our  lines  wavered,  fell  back,  firing. 
Then  the  enemy's  lines  moved  more  cautiously;  slower  and  yet 
more  slowly,  and  halted  in  doubt. 

A  sharp,  angry  voice  was  heard,  and  recognized.  It  was 
Campbell: 

"You  have  fallen  back  far  enough — forward!" 

The  men  caught  the  spirit.  Infantry  and  dismounted  cav 
alry  dashed  upon  the  now  wavering  enemy,  giving  them  fresh 
volley  after  volley,  driving  them  into  and  through  the  woods, 
retaking  the  lost  ground,  and  driving  them  beyond  the  first 
alignment. 

During  this  repulse  of  the  enemy  Colonel  Campbell  showed 
himself  in  brighter  colors  than  ever  before,  by  leading  in  person 
the  first  Tennessee  cavalry  in  a  saber  charge,  an  opportunity 
he  had  never  before  enjoyed,  and  the  regiment  proved  conclu 
sively  that  they  were  of  the  right  material  when  properly 
officered. 

The  rout  was  complete  and  the  enemy  fled  demoralized, 
though  they  had  made  a  courageous  strike;  and  had  our  men 
been  in  the  open  fields,  on  grounds  not  of  their  own  choosing, 
the  result — well,  it  is  needless  to  speculate. 

At  this  time  the  second  brigade  returned,  and  feeling  cha 
grined  at  their  having  a  second  time  been  prevented  from  help 
ing  the  first  brigade  in  a  hard  struggle,  they  dashed  away  at 
the  retreating  foe  with  an  energy  that  boded  no  good  for  lag 
gards. 


IX    THE    WEST.    '  173 

While  the  second  cavalry  does  not  claim  to  have  done  all 
the  fighting  of  that  day,  there  is  no  denying  the  fact  that  their 
position  \vas  in  the  thickest  of  it,  and  had  their  courage  as  a 
regiment  been  less,  or  their  arms  single  barreled,  the  enemy 
could  not  have  been  repulsed;  and  their  services  were  recognized 
handsomely  in  "General  Orders." 

After  the  battle  it  was  ascertained  from  citizens  that  Gen 
eral  Martin  commanded  the  Confederates  and  that  his  force 
consisted  of  ten  regiments  of  cavalry  and  ten  guns;  and  he  was 

heard  to  boast  that  he  would  "drive  the  d Yankees  out  of 

Mossy  Creek  before  breakfast,  just  for  fun." 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  he  knew  there  would  be  but  one 
brigade  to  oppose  him,  his  conclusions,  from  his  standpoint, 
were  natural. 

This  closed  the  year  1863 — one  of  the  most  eventful  of  the 
war — and  summing  up,  we  find  that  the  second  Michigan  cav 
alry  during  the  year  was  engaged  in  twenty-four  battles,  or 
battles  and  unimportant  skirmishes  where  losses  were  sustained, 
besides  numerous  minor  actions  where  no  loss  was  met  with  on 
our  side.  They  marched  during  the  year  nearly  2,500  miles,  not 
including  picket,  scouting  and  foraging  expeditions,  which 
would  add  nearly  or  quite  as  many  more.  They  received 
numerous  recruits,  yet  the  regiment  was  little  more  than  half 
full. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SEVERE  VILLE,       OR       FAIR       GARDE  X A      MIDNIGHT       RETREAT A 

MORNING      ADVANCE A      "DEAD      LINE" STORMING      BRIDGE 

AND    BARRICADE. 

Without  entering  minutely  into  the  daily  routine  of  camp 
life,  picket  and  scouting  duty  and  short  marches,  it  will  suffice 
the  objects  of  this  volume  to  note  the  fact  of  a  quiet  camp  life 
from  January  1st,  1864,  until  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  when 
the  entire  division  moved  to  a  camp  near  Dandridge;  and  it  was 
generally  understood  that  an  advance  was  to  be  made  on  Long- 
street,  in  winter  quarters  at  Morristovvn,  some  twelve  miles 
away. 

General  Gordon  Granger  with  his  corps  and  General  Sheri 
dan  with  his  division  met  us  there,  having  in  all  about  25,000 
men.  Some  sharp  skirmishing  occurred  on  the  way,  but  nothing 
serious,  the  enemy  giving  way,  and  the  usual  maneuvering  took 
place  on  both  sides  to  discover  the  strength,  object  or  intention 
of  each  army. 

On  the  second  day  of  our  arrival  severe  skirmishes  occurred 
all  along  the  line,  in  which  numbers  on  either  side  were  killed 


IN    THE    WEST.  175 

or  wounded,  several  officers  from  our  regiment  being  among  the 
number.  The  Second  was  on  the  front  line  all  day  and  held 
their  position  all  night,  fully  expecting  a  general  engagement  in 
the  morning,  yet  they  lay  down  to  rest  with  coolness,  confident 
that  there  would  be  a  place  for  them,  and  content  to  leave  the 
events  of  the  morrow  to  the  God  of  battles. 

At  two  o'clock  A.  M.  orders  came  to  fall  back  immediately; 
that  Longstreet  was  preparing  to  advance.* 

To  fall  back  and  we  had^not  fired  a  gun.  That  was  a  new 
school  of  tactics,  and  a  bitter  pill  to  the  Second.  Evidently 
(we  thought)  some  one  has  blundered.  But  the  Second  was 
given  the  rear.  "Cover  the  retreat"  came  as  a  looked  for  order, 
and  there  was  a  kind  of  grim  comfort  in  the  reflection — a 
Michigan  regiment  of  cavalry  is  thought  enough  of  to  be  given 
the  post  of  honor  so  often. 

And  so,  back  to  Strawberry  plains,  leisurely,  wearily,  the 
army  moved,  and  on  to  Knoxville,  crossing  the  Holston  river 
and  closing  up  with  the  division  at  Severeville.  Here  the  whole 
division  participated  in  skirmishes  until  the  27th,  when  at  day 
light  a  line  of  battle  was  formed,  and  a  general  advance  ordered, 
and  the  Second  on  the  skirmish  line,  taking  the  main  road,  in 
the  center  of  the  army  of  the  East  Tennessee,  with  the  first 
Tennessee  cavalry  on  our  right  and  the  ninth  Pennsylvania  cav 
alry  on  our  left. 

The   second  brigade    was  ordered  to  make  a  detour  to  the 

*It  was  not  at  the  time  known  to  subordinate  officers,  or,  for  that  matter,  to  regi 
mental  commanders,  even,  but  subsequent  events  led  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was 
part  of  a  general  plan  to  draw  Longstreet  into  East  Tennessee  with  as  many  troops 
as  possible,  that  our  forces  operating  against  Bragg  might*  if  possible,  crush  Long- 
street,  or  failing  to  do  that,  drive  Bragg  south  towards  Atlanta;  and  the  result  was 
Mission  Ridge  and  the  the  Atlanta  campaign,  in  which  Longstreet  was  needed  and 
hurriedly  left  East  Tennessee  to  join  Bragg,  soon  after  the  events  above  narrated. 


170  HUM) UK I>  KATTLKS 

left  in  order  to  strike  the  enemy  in  flank  while  the  first  brigade 
pressed  them  in  front. 

Prompt  at  daylight  the  second  Michigan  was  in  position, 
behind  Pigeon  river,  waiting  for  the  fog  to  rise  before  advanc 
ing.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Benjamin  Smith  had  just  received  his 
commission  and,  always  ready  for  every  emergency,  was  espec 
ially  jubilant  this  morning,  and  his  men  saw  blood  in  the  eye, 
which  seemed  to  reflect  itself  all  along  the  line.  Major  Scran- 
ton  had  returned  from  his  short  rest  since  his  injury  at  Dan- 
dridge,  and  the  regiment  seemed  possessed  of  new  confidence  in 
their  officers  and  themselves. 

Soon  the  fog  lifted  and  the  order  was  given  to  advance. 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  in  the  face  of  a  rattling  fire  of 
musketry  and  artillery,  the  men  stepped  rapidly  into  the  river, 
holding  aloft  their  arms  and  ammunition,  crossing  with  the 
water  up  to  their  waists;  and  immediately  dislodged  the  enemy 
from  an  orchard,  giving  them  so  sharp  a  fire  that  a  whole  bri 
gade  was  supposed  to  be  close  in  their  rear,  and  the  Second,  fol 
lowing  them  closely  across  an  open  field,  gave  the  artillery  sta 
tioned  there  a  volley,  from  which  they  "limbered  up"  and  left  on 
a  wild  gallop. 

As  the  regiment  had  carried  out  their  instructions,  Colonel 
Smith  halted  them  for  orders.  Generals  Sturgis  and  McCook 
were  soon  up  and  complimented  the  regiment  very  highly  on  the 
brilliant  manner  in  which  they  had  driven  the  enemy  with  so 
small  a  force. 

Again  the  command  moved  forward,  soon  arriving  at  a 
creek,  crossed  by  a  covered  bridge.  Dashing  at  the  heavy  line 
of  skirmishers  stationed  there,  the  enemy  was  again  put  to 


IN    THE    WEST.  177 

flight,  across  the  bridge  and  behind  formidable  barricades.      But 
the     Second     was     fairly     wild     this     morning     and    nothing 
seemed  likely  to  check  them  short   of   the  uncovered   lines  of 
Longstreet's  whole  army.     About  sixty  men  had  crossed  with 
Colonel  Smith  and  were  looking  for  a  weak  spot  in  the  barricade 
to  attack,  when  they  discovered  that  the  main  part  of  the  regi 
ment  had  not  crossed.     Here,  too,  the  fleeing  enemy  met  their 
reinforcements  under  General  Martin,  who  turned  upon  our  men, 
and,  with  overwhelming  numbers,  drove  them   back  across  the 
bridge,    fighting    every   step.     Here  the  Second  halted,  taking 
cover,  waiting  for  the  enemy  to  advance  across  the  bridge,  and 
for  our  own  men  to  close  up.     They  had  only  a  few  minutes  to 
wait   and  the  enemy  filled   the  bridge,  mounted,   but  as   they 
emerged  upon  our  side,  the  revolving  rifles  spoke — the  dead  line 
was  drawn,  and  not  a  living   soul   crossed  to  our  side.     Rein 
forcements  had  arrived  and  again  the  regiment   dashed  at  the 
now  routed  enemy,  following  them  closely,  occasionally  meeting 
with  stubborn    resistance,  but  driving  the  lighter   forces  back 
upon  the  main  army,  now  retreating,  but  in  good  order,  ready  to 
wheel  and    pour  out   their  wrath  in  grape,  canister  and  shell, 
whenever  pressed  too  hard.     In  this  manner   the    enemy   were 
driven  about  five  miles,  before  the  second  brigade   had  reached 
the  striking  point,  when  their  final  stand  was  made  at  Fair  Gar 
den,  their  artillery  and   infantry  being   apparently    determined 
not   to    fall    back    further,    but    poured  out  volley  after  volley 
wherever  our  men  showed   themselves;   also  shelling  the  woods 
furiously.      This   gave   us    a   temporary   check,  just    the   thing 
needed  for    the   movements  of  the  second   brigade,   who  came 
dashing  down  upon  the  flanks  of  the  enemy,  while  our  regiment 


1  78  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

again  pressed  them  in  rear,  and  the  rout  was  complete,  several 
pieces  of  artillery,  battle-flags,  and  about  200  prisoners  falling 
into  our  hands. 

This  ended  the  battle  of  Severeville,  or  Fair  Garden,  begun 
at  Pigeon  river.  And  while  it  was  not  among  the  battles  of 
heavy  loss  of  life,  it  was  none  the  less  a  heavy  blow  to  the  Con 
federates'  hopes  of  obtaining  a  stand  in  East  Tennessee. 

The  second  cavalry  were  duly  accorded  their  full  share  of 
praise  by  the  members  of  other  commands.  The  following  com 
plimentary  letter  from  the  general  commanding  explains  itself: 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS, 
Marysville,  Tennessee,  February  2d,  1864. 
COLONEL  CAMPBELL, 

Commanding  first  brigade,  first  division, 

Cavalry  department  of  the  Cumberland: 

General  Sturgis,  commanding  the  cavalry,  directs  me  to 
inform  you  that  it  gives  him  great  pleasure  to  thank  you,  in  the 
name  of  General  John  G.  Foster,  commanding  the  department, 
for  your  gallantry  in  the  engagement  of  the  27th  ult.,  when 
your  brigade  drove  the  enemy  from  every  position,  finally  driv 
ing  him  from  the  field  with  severe  loss  and  in  great  confusion. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Colonel, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  C.  RANDKE, 
Captain  and  A.  D.  C.,  U.  S.  A. 

And  right  here  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  remark  that 
the  Second,  as  a  regiment,  were  never  troubled  by  petty  jeal 
ousies  toward  other  regiments,  but  always  rejoiced  to  see  another 
regiment  receive  homage  for  worthy  services  rendered. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

VETERANS — SEVEKEVILLE       TO        CLEVELAND FLORENCE — SHOAL 

CREEK — FORREST  AND  RODDY THE  NON- VETERANS  AND    THE 

ATLANTA     CAMPAIGN LIEUTENANT     DARROW CAPTAIN  FAR- 

GO's  FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 

The  31st  of  January,  1864,  found  the  regiment  encamped 
near  Marysville,  East  Tennessee,  where  they  remained  till  the 
9th  of  February,  when  they  forded  the  Little  Tennessee  river  and 
encamped  on  Four-mile  creek,  in  Monroe  county,  and  during  the 
month  no  event  of  stirring  interest  occurred;  moving  camp  often 
and  working  towards  Cleveland,  by  way  of  Citaco,  Madisonville 
and  Calhoun.  During  this  month  the  regiment  was  encamped 
amid  some  of  the  most  romantic  scenery  of  the  South. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1864,  at  8  A.  M.,  we  marched 
through  Severeville  out  on  the  Marysville  road,  and  crossed  the 
ridge  into  Weaer's  cove,  camping  near  Bryant's  house.  This 
cove  seems  a  most  wonderful  place,  for  while  many  of  the  so- 
called  coves  in  the  mountains  of  Tennessee  have  a  romantic  and 
sometimes  weird  appearance,  this  seemed  shut  in  from  all  the 
outer  world,  where  a  few  families  cultivate  their  farms.  A 


180  HUNDRED    B  ATT  1. 1  •> 

beautiful  valley,  surrounded  by  lofty  mountains,  whose  tops  and 
sloping  sides  are  covered  with  trees,  having  at  this  season 
many  hues — an  amphitheatre  of  beauty,  with  a  clear  blue  sky 
for  its  canopy,  and  a  mountain  brook  of  crystal  purity,  mean 
dering  through  the  cove. 

Next  day  we  marched  out  of  the  cove  along  the  bed  of  the 
stream,  just  wide  enough  for  our  wagons  to  pass;  mountains 
rising  almost  perpendicularly  on  either  side. 

As  we  leave  Weaer's  we  enter  Tuckaleeche  cove  below,  and 
thence  along  a  little  river,  through  some  very  wild  scenery,  and 
camp  in  a  cedar  grove  near  Marysville.  These  long  marches 
and  raids  reveal  to  the  observing  cavalrymen  some  of  the  most 
pleasing  of  nature's  works.  Lofty  mountains  with  their  wonder 
ful  upheavals.  Beautiful  valleys,  streams  and  forests  with  their 
many  colored  trees;  dark  green  polished  laurel  leaves;  the 
evergreen  pines  and  cedars,  the  beautiful  magnolias — beautiful 
whether  in  blossom  or  out  of  blossom — the  live  oaks  and  mistle 
toes — all,  moistened  by  the  spray  of  rushing  cataract,  adds  charm 
to  the  landscape,  perfected  here  and  there  by  the  dwellings  of  a 
Southern  planter's  home. 

While  encamped  in  these  valleys  one  of  our  scouting  ex 
peditions  brought  in  a  company  of  Cherokee  Indians,  in  full 
Confederate  uniform.  Using  the  prisoners  with  strictest  military 
courtesy  many  of  them  expressed  a  desire  to  enter  our  army. 
They  were  not  encouraged  in  this,  but  were  provided  for  com 
fortably,  and  many  of  them  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes. 

Here  we  had  an  example  of  doubtful  loyal  men  seeking 
protection  for  slaves.  One  Scruggs,  claiming  to  be  a  strong 
Union  man,  was  extremely  anxious  about  "my  niggers."  He 


IX    THE    WEST.  181 

hoped  we  would  protect  him  and  give  him  a  guard  to  keep  his 
slaves  from  running  away.  But  he  was  not  long  in  finding  out 
that  our  troops  "never  guard  niggers." 

For  a  time  Colonel  Campbell  commanded  a  division  of 
cavalry  here,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Benjamin  Smith  com 
manded  tho  brigade,  but  it  was  very  difficult  fora  volunteer 
colonel  to  win  his  star,  and  Campbell  returned  home  to  Mich 
igan  as  a  veteran — and  this  trip  cost  him  a  wrecked  ambition 
and  his  life. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  at  Cleveland,  Tennessee,  about  300 
men  were  re-mustered  into  the  service  for  three  years  more  as 
"veteran  volunteers,"  and  expected  soon  to  receive  papers  that 
would  take  them  home  for  a  thirty  days' furlough.  About  this 
time  Colonel  Smith  went  to  London,  Tennessee,  where  the  fourth 
army  corps  was  encainptd  under  our  old  colonel,  General  Gor 
don  Granger,  and  perfected  arrangements  for  arming  the  regi 
ment  with  the  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  at  that  time  the  newest 
and  most  effective  weapon  in  the  service. 

On  the  4th  of  April  315  men  an  i  nearly  all  the  officers  that 
went  out  as  such,  started  for  Michigan  on  veteran  furlough, 
enough  remaining  behind,  with  the  recruits,  to  keep  up  the 
organization  of  the  regiment. 

At  Chattanooga  the  veterans  got  into  trouble,  through  im 
perfect  arrangements  for  quarters  and  rations,  and  were  placed 
under  arrest,  but  were  released  after  twenty-four  hours  and 
went  on  their  way.  A  history  of  this  outrage  will  be  found  in 
Part  Second  of  this  volume.  This  furlough  was  one  continuous 
round  of  ovations  at  different  points  in  Michigan,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  thirty  days  they  again  met  at  Jackson,  and  re- 


182  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

turned  to  Nashville,  via  Louisville,  where  Colonel  Campbell, 
being  taken  sick,  remained  in  hospital  until  returned  home  to 
St.  Clair  county,  Michigan,  to  linger  out  an  inglorious  end  in 
consumption,  instead  of  returning  to  receive  a  "star,"  as  he 
doubtless  would,  had  he  been  more  prudent  of  his  health,  which 
appeared,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  of  the  most  robust  charac 
ter;  he  was  of  almost  gigantic  stature  and  perfect  physique. 
The  death  of  Colonel  Campbell  left  the  regiment  in  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Benjamin  Smith,  who  could  not  be  promoted 
to  colonel,  as  there  were  not  men  enough  to  muster  one;  but  they 
returned  to  duty  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  while  the  non-veterans, 
about  300  of  them,  under  command  of  Major  Scranton, 
were  moving  forward  with  the  army  under  General  Sherman 
toward  Atlanta,  and  were  engaged  in  skirmishes  on  the 
Dalton  road  to  Mt.  Pleasant  church,  Varnell'.-  station  and 
Buzzard's  Roost  and  on  through  Tunnel  Hill  to  Dug  Gap  where 
they  were  placed  on  duty  in  connection  with  the  fortifications, 
and  later  took  part  in  the  movements  of  the  army  towards 
Atlanta. 

The  300  non-veterans  (mostly  well  tried  soldiers)  were  very 
^  short  of  officers,  most  of  them  having  gone  home  with  the  veter 
ans.  But  Major  Scranton  held  the  confidence  of  his  men  by  his 
cool-headed  and  general  stubbornness  in  a  fight.  Their  engage 
ments  began  in  the  vicinity  of  Varnell's  station,  only  a  few  miles 
east  of  Chicamauga  and  perhaps  twenty-five  miles  south  of  Cleve 
land,  Tenncssoe.  Here  it  was  that  a  new  cavalry  regiment,  mag 
nificently  mounted,  1,200  strong,  marched  in  so  proudly,  and  look 
ed  down  so  contemptuously  upon  the  little  band  of  300  with  their 
tough,  hardy,  well  cared  for  nags;  not  handsome;  no  superfluous 


IN  THE  WEST.  183 

flesh ;  rather  raw-boned,  but  worth  a  whole  brigade  of  "soft  shells," 
and  between  whom  there  was  affection  almost  human.  A  small 
brigade  of  infantry  was  making  a  demonstration  upon  our  flank. 
The  new  cavalry  regiment  were  sent  to  check  them,  and  they 
rode  away  with  a  sort  of  look-at-me  expression  that  provoked  a 
broad  smile  from  the  older  ones.  They  went  in  with  a  whirl, 
that,  if  properly  managed  would  have  swept  the  enemy  from  the 
field;  but  they  could  not  stay,  and  the  second  Michigan  300  were 
immediately  dismounted  and  ready  to  cover  the  retreat.  They 
had  but  a  few  minutes  to  wait;  back  came  the  fleeing  chargers, 
closely  followed  by  the  rebel  infantry.  When  they  came  upon 
the  300  repeating  rifles  there  was  a  crash  that  staggered  them. 
The  range  was  close  and  the  firing  rapid  and  unerring.  It  was  the 
every  day  story,  single  shooters  against  repeating  rifles,  and  the 
odds  in  numbers  were  not  sufficient  to  dislodge  them.  The 

O 

enemy  retired,  and  the  new  cavalry,  when  they  came  up  again, 
had  a  very  different  opinion  of  non-veterans  in  their  old,  faded 
blue;  mounted  onnaggish  looking  steeds;  caressingly  toying  with 
repeating  rifles.  Hanging  upon  the  left  flank  of  our  army  the 
cavalry  moved  on  and  again  came  upon  heavy  bodies  of  infantry 
massed  behind  earthworks  bristing  with  artillery,  at  Til  ton,  a 
station  not  far  from  Resaca.  The  arrangement  of  the  Confeder 
ate  works  was  admirable,  their  center  forming  a  crescent  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  with  flanking  works  thrown  forward,  giving  them 
an  enfilading  fire  upon  our  advance  (the  eightk  Iowa),  and  the 
loss  to  that  regiment  was  severe.  They  retired;  the  repeating 
rifles  were  dismounted  and  sent  up  and  soon  discovered  that 
nothing  short  of  very  heavy  bodies  could  carry  the  works,  and 
then  not  without  a  severe  engagement  and  heavy  loss  to  the 


184  riUNDBKD    BATTLES 

assailants.  An  infantry  brigade  came  up  and  the  commander 
rather  contemptuously  said,  "I  will  send  some  of  my  infantry  in 
there,"  intimating  that  dismounted  cavalry  had  no  business  in 
front.  General  Stanley  came  up,  and  hearing  what  our  men  had 
discovered,  immediately  ordered  up  all  the  infantry  at  once. 
Before  the  order  could  be  carried  out  the  enemy  opened,  and 
the  air  was  filled  with  bullets  and  shells,  and  the  line  was  not 
advanced  a  rod,  while  the  enfilading  fire  cut  off  our  retreat 
across  the  open  field  and  held  our  men  there  until  ifter  dark. 
But  Thomas  was  thundering  away  on  the  right,  and  in  a  day 
or  two  the  enemy's  flanks  were  so  hard  pressed  they  withdrew 
from  their  stronghold  and  retired  to  Resaca.  And  thus  push 
ing,  and  flanking,  Resaca  fell.  Then  Calhoun,  and  on  to  Burnt 
Hickory,  where  Tilton  was  repeated,  and  after  that  Ackworth 
and  Lost  Mountain.  Here  the  non-veterans  captured  the  earth 
works  on  the  flank  and  held  them,  while  the  mainjDortion  of  our 
army  swung  around  and  drove  the  ( nemy  toward  Kenesaw 
mountains.  From  near  this  point  the  regiment  made  three  raids 
to  Powder  Springs  and  points  south  of  Lost  Mountain.  Some 
of  the  minor  engagements  between  scouting  parties  and  ad 
vanced  pickets  developed  the  strong  fighting  points  of  the  "re 
cruits."^  A  gallant  reconnaissance  by  a  small  handful  of  them 
non-veterans  at  VarnelPs  station,  as  related  by  an  officer  of 
General  McCook's  staff,  will  be  found  of  interest  in  Part 
Second. 

After  this  they  were  ordered  to  join  the  veteran  por 
tion  of  the  regiment  in  middle  Tennessee,  where  they  were 
placed  in  charge  of  the  railroad  defenses  towards  Columbia. 


IX    THE    WEST.  185 

These  they  held  until  September,  having  in  that  time  compara 
tively  little  hard  fighting,  the  enemy  using  all  their  forces  in 
opposing  General  Sherman. 

But  it  now  became  evident  that  the  enemy  were  determined 
to  draw  off  a  part  of  our  forces  from  around  Atlanta,  and  three 
regiments  joined  us — the  first  Tennessee,  fourth  Kentucky  and 
eighth  Iowa,  under  command  of  General  Croxton,  a  gallant 
young  Kentuckian — to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy  and 
prevent,  if  possible,  depredations  upon  our  railway  communica 
tion.  The  move  was  none  too  quick.  General  Frank  Wheeler, 
to  whom  we  had  given  some  lively  compliments  in  times  past, 
was  again  raiding,  and  the  regiment,  with  the  brigade  and  other 
forces  which  had  come  up  immediately  sent  him  whirling  again 
towards  the  Tennessee  river  on  a  running  fight,  after  a  quite 
severe  engagement  near  Franklin. 

This  raid  of  Wheeler's  began  near  Nashville.  Being  driven 
back  by  our  brigade,  Wheeler  swung  around  Franklin  and  attack 
ed  from  the  south,  just  as  Croxton's  brigade  entered  the  town  from 
the  east.  Wheeler  was  driven  out,  though  not  .without  a  stub 
born  resistance,  in  which  both  sides  lost  quite  severely.  Among 
the  severely  wounded  was  Colonel  Jim  Brownlow,  of  the  first 
Tennessee,  and  the  Confederate  General  Kelly  killed.  After 
driving  Wheeler  back,  Rousseau  came  across  from  the  east,  and 
being  the  senior  officer,  sent  the  cavalry  on  numerous  wild  ex 
peditions,  while  he  followed  along  slowly  until  the  cavalry  were 
getting  disgusted  with  the  stupidity  of  their  movements,  and 
none  quite  so  much  so  as  Croxton  himself. 

The  last  straw  was  added^one"  evening  just  as  the  brigade 
had  settled  down  for  the  night,  without  an  enemy  in  a  day's 


186  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

march  of  them.  Rousseau  sent  word  to  Croxton  to  saddle  up, 
and  Croxton  sent  word  to  Rousseau  by  a  trusted  officer  of  the 
Second  that  "the  brigade  will  not  leave  their  present  camp  to 
night."  Rousseau  and  several  boon  companions  were  gathered 
around  a  mess-chest,  evidently  about  to  discuss  the  merits  of 
some  liquid  refreshments,  and  looking  up,  in  well-feigned  aston 
ishment,  ordered  an  officer  to  investigate  what  Croxton  meant. 

But  as  nothing  further  was  heard  of  it,  the  end  is  easily   guessed 
i 

— an  incompetent  or  else  demoralized  commander  defied  with 
impunity.  Rousseau  had  been  a  gallant  division  commander  of 
infantry,  but  was  strangely  out  of  place  with  such  a  command 
as  this. 

During  the  first  week  of  this  month  (October)  the  command 
had  gone  as  far  east  as  Winchester  and  back,  Forrest  dividing 
his  forces  there,  to  mislead  us. 


CAT-T.    DAN   T.   FARGO. 

After  escorting  Wheeler  out  of  the  State  for  the  third  time, 
the  brigade  returned  to  Franklin,  but  had  not  settled  down 
fairly  in  camp  when  word  came  that  Forrest  was  on  the  way  to 
pay  his  respects,  and  was  tearing  up  the  railroad,  destroying 


IN    THE    WEST.  187 

block  houses  and  bridges  and  raising  sad  havoc  generally.  Dur 
ing  this  rapid  chasing  of  Wheeler's  forces,  Captain  Dan  Fargo, 
of  Croxton's  staff,  was  sent  on  in  advance,  with  an  escort  of 
twenty-four  men  and  a  flag  of  truce,  to  ascertain  if  possible 
whether  General  Williams  was  with  Wheeler,  as  it  made  con 
siderable  difference  whether  they  were  pushing  a  divided  or  a 
full  force.  This  was  a  delicate  mission — involving  cool  judg 
ment,  quick  perception  and  a  liberal  amount  of  sang  fr old.  The 
captain  was  given  to  understand  that  if  his  real  mission  was  dis 
covered  he  would  probably  be  treated  as  a  spy.  "How  do  you 
think  you  would  enjoy  a  little  hanging  bee?"  "I  think  I'd 
rather  go  fishing,"  was  the  captain's  reply,  as  he  adjusted 
.his  collar  and  pulled  down  his  belt.  He  was  given  a  letter  to 
General  Wheeler  asking  if  he  had  in  his  hands  any  prisoners 
which  he  could  give  in  exchange  for  some  we  did  not  care  to  be 
burdened  with,  etc. — and  instructed  to  get  in  among  them  as  far 
as  possible,  and  learn  all  he  could. 

They  dashed  away  and  rode  on  among  them  without  firing 
a  shot,  neither  heeding  the  commands  to  halt,  backed  by  numer 
ous  shots.  The  dust  hid  their  flag  of  truce,  and  the  men's  horses 
were  apparently  hard  to  stop,  but  at  last  they  thought  they  had. 
gone  far  enough,  as  they  were  all  surrounded  with  Confederates, 
and  pulling  out  by  the  side  of  the  road,  asked  to  see  General 
Wheeler.  His  adjutant-general  soon  came  back  and  in  a  few 
moments  of  conversation  disclosed  the  fact  unwittingly  that 
Williams  was  off  on  another  expedition.  They  had  no  prisoners 
to  give  up.  A  few  pleasant  words  were  spoken — mutual  regrets 
at  the  death  of  the  gallant  young  General  Kelly  were  expressed 
and  the  Confederates  moved  on,  with  a  pleasant  "Good  day, 
gentlemen,"  from  both  sides  and  respectful  salutations. 


188  Hl'NDRKI)    BATTLES 

Our  command  was  up  in  five  minutes,  the  Confederates  had 
passed  out  of  teight,  and  again  the  chase,  the  exchange  of  shots, 
and  the  charge  of  the  stronger  upon  the  weaker — so  so6n  to  be 
reversed. 

Away  the  brigade  went,  with  greatest  haste,  and  arrived  in 
Pulaski  just  in  time  to  save  that  town  and  defenses  from  falling 
into  Forrest's  hands. 

An  all  day  fight  ensued,  and  Forrest's  men  were  finally 
driven  back,  but  they  were  light  and  it  made  no  difference 

to  them  which  way  they  went;  and  their  doings  varied  little  from 
those  of  guerrillas — breaking  in  small  squads  when  necessary,  and 
dashing  down  upon  posts,  at  weak  points — burning,  destroying  and 
not  always  particular  as  to  following  the  rules  of  civilized  war 
fare,  and  no  doubt,  doing  much  to  earn  for  the  Confederates  the 
reputation  which  that  old  tactician,  Von  Moltke,  gave  both 
armies.  "An  armed  mob;  I  do  not  care  to  read  their  history," 
said  the  old  war-doar. 

O  • 

When  Forrest  was  repulsed  at  Pulaski,  he  swung  around 
our  rear  and  beat  us  in  a  race  (he  was  always  good  at  running) 
to  Franklin,  and  destroyed  many  miles  of  railroad  track,  captur 
ing  and  burning  several  block  houses,  and  again  breaking,  fled 
for  the  Tennessee  river.  At  Cypress  creek,  Alabama,  he  was 
brought  to  bay  and  disputed  our  crossing.  This  was  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1864.  Roddy  had  also  been  through  Tennessee, 
destroying  railroads  between  Athens  and  Pulaski,  and  between 
Duck  river  and  Gaihes,  and  here  both  of  these  ubiquitous  free 
booters  joined  forces  of  what  was  left  (many  had  deserted  or 
turned  regular  guerrillas),  and  these  two,  with  their  followers 
were  striving  to  cross  the  Tennessee  river,  and,  in  order  to  do  so, 


IN  THE  WEST.  189 

it  was  necessary  to  fight,  and,  if  possible,  keep  our  forces  from 
crossing  Cypress  creek,  a  branch  of  the  Tennessee,  at  a  cotton 
mill,  four  miles  from  Florence.  The  eighth  Iowa  had  been  in 
advance  while  the  running  tight  lasted,  but  their  colonel,  a  good, 
old,  unsoldierly  sort  of  man,  had  not  the  confidence  in  himself 
neither  had  his  men  (though  his  men  were  among  the  best  in 
the  field),  to  press  the  fighting  against  odds;  and  that  there  were 
odds  could  be  plainly  seen,  since  it  was  learned  Roddy  had  joined 
Forrest.  Therefore,  he  told  General  Croxton  of  his  inability  to 
cross  the  creek,  and  the  General  sent  for  Colonel  Smith  and 
asked  him  if  he  could  cross.  The  reply  was  promptly,  "We  can 

try." 

The  condition  of  affairs  being  communicated  to  the  men  of 
the  Second,  a  shout  went  up  that  was  enough  of  itself  to  demor 
alize  some  brigades,  and  they  could  hardly  be  restrained  while 
the  order  to  forward  was  being  given;  and  before  General  Crox 
ton  had  fairly  realized  what  was  taking  place,  the  creek  was 
crossed  and  the  men  were  engaged  at  close  quarters,  mounted 
and  within  twenty  minutes  the  enemy  were  flying  towards  the 
Tennessee  river.  The  other  regiments  supported  handsomely, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  there  was  not  a  living  Confederate  this 
side  of  the  Tennessee  river  except  prisoners,  Forrest  himsolf 
having  a  very  narrow  escape  from  capture.  The  fight  was  tjo 
short  for  many  losses,  but  among  them  was  Lieutenant  D  arrowy 
a  brave  young  officer,  very  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him, 
And  what  made  this  case  especially  sad  was  the  fact  that  he  had 
served  his  three  years,  had  his  discharge  papers  and  was  to  have 
returned  to  his  friends  "after  one  more  fight,"  as  he  expressed  it. 
And  this  was  the  second  time  in  a  month  the  brigade  had 
driven  the  enemy  across  the  same  stream. 


190  HUNDRED  BATTLES 


LIEUT.   RUSSELL  T.  D ARROW. 

It  was  evidently  a  deep  humiliation  to  Forrest,  who  had 
once  been  able  to  hold  at  bay  two  divisions  while  he  captured  a 
brigade  of  our  infantry  at  Thompson's  station,  that  he  could  not 
hold  so  strong  a  position  as  that  ford  against  a  single  brigade, 
and,  in  fact,  was  started  on  a  run  by  one  single  regiment. 

The  regiment  immediately  returned  to  Pulaski,  but  were 
soon  ordered  to  return  to  Shoal  creek,  near  Florence,  and  watch 
the  enemy,  who  were  reported  about  to  cross  and  invade  Ten 
nessee  in  force,  as  a  counter  movement  against  Sherman. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    HOOD    CAMPAIGN FLORENCE SHOAL      CREEK PONTOONS — 

A    FAITHFUL    NEGRO THE    BEGINNING    OF    THE    INVASION. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1864,  the  regiment  and  brigade  took 
up  the  search  for  Forrest  and  discovered  that  he  had  crossed  the 
Tennessee,  and  the  command  returned  to  Lindsey's  creek,  and 
on  to  Rawhide  and  Hurricane  creek.  Here  liberal  supplies  of 
chickens,  hogs  and  cattle  were  found,  and  in  our  condition  of 
short  rations  for  days  they  were  duly  appreciated.  Returning 
to  Pulaski,  on  the  13th,  we  were  made  glad  once  more  by  the 
sight  of  our  wagon  trains,  with  regular  rations,  and  during  the 
rest  of  the  month  were  employed  in  keeping  watch  of  the  terri 
tory  south  to  the  Tennessee  river  and  north  to  Pulaski,  main 
taining  courier  lines  under  many  discouragements;  half  the 
citizens  along  the  route  turning  guerrillas,  in  their  endeavor  to 
break  up  our  communications  with  General  Thomas.  For  the 
fearless  stand  the  regiment  made  in  suppressing  guerrilla  war 
fare,  they  acquired  a  reputation  along  that  line  which,  doubtless, 
will  cling  to  them  and  alt  Michigan  soldiers  as  the  "worst  lot  of 
Yankees  ever  sent  down  here." 


192 


III   NDRED    BATTLES 


General  Croxton  was  now  picketing  the  Tennessee  river  for 
ten  miles,  and  when  Hood  gathered  his  forces  nearly  opposite 
Florence,  Croxton  was  watching  him. 

At  midnight,  on  the  29th  of  October,  an  old  negro 
crossed  the  Muscle  shoals  on  the  rocks  and  fish  traps, 
wading,  swimming  and  stumbling  along — a  perilous  under 
taking  in  broad  daylight,  in  a  favorable  season,  but  at 
midnight,  at  such  a  season,  who  can  doubt  the  courage 
required  for  such  an  adventure?  Making  his  way  to  head 
quarters,  and  being  halted  by  the  guard  pacing  up  and  down, 
he  asked  to  be  shown  the  general's  tent.  A  staff  officer  came, 
and,  after  questioning,  led  him  to  the  General,  to  whom  he 
recited  his  hardships  in  crossing  the  ford,  and  told  him  he  had 
come  from  Hood's  camp  and  that  "the  boys  over  the  river  had 
orders  to  cross  at  daylight,  at  Raccoon  ford."  His  story  was 
doubted,  but  after  cross-questioning  him  closely,  the  general 
ordered  the  command  to  be  at  the  crossing  by  daylight,  only  a 
picket  remaining  at  our  present  encampment  to  protect  our 
reserve  supplies  and  tents. 

The  enemy  appeared,  a*  advertised,  but  our  movements  had 
been  so  quiet  as  to  fail  of  observation,  and  their  attempts  to 
cross  were  in  a  manner  which  indicated  their  belief  in  profound 
ignorance  on  our  part.  They  pushed  out  pontoons  in  close  suc 
cession,  but  were  met  with  volley  after  volley  until  they  became 
uneasy,  and  wavering,  fell  back  to  their  own  bank.  During  the 
afternoon,  however,  they  took  advantage  of  an  island,  and, 
landing  on  the  opposite  side,  under  cover  of  timber,  succeeded 
in  crossing  a  sufficient  force  to  be  able  to  contend  with  more 
than  ordinary  cavalry  brigades.  But  General  Croxton  left  the 


IN    THE   WEST.  193 

protection  of  this  (Raccoon  ford)  crossing  to  Colonel  Benjamin 
Smith,  with  rifles,  and  they  held  the  main  landing  until  after 
dark,  the  brigade  having  other  work  on  their  hands. 

General  Thomas  was  informed  of  Hood's  movements  by 
courier  line  and  telegraphed  to  hold  the  ford  as  long  as  possible. 
Hood  crossed  a  division  at  Florence,  and  remained  near  there 
until  November  5th. 

The  Second  watched  Hood's  outposts  daily,  guarding  the 
fords  and  advance  pickets,  and  doing  all  that  was  possible  to 
retard  the  progress  of  Hood.  Here  it  was  that  a  most 
daring  venture  was  made  by  a  small  detail  of  men  from  the 
second  Michigan  cavalry.  It  is  too  long  for  place  in  this  chap 
ter.  We  refer  to  the  story  of  Marshman  Maxon,  of  company 
A.  Of  the  truth  of  this  romantic  story  there  is  not  a  doubt.  It 
will  be  found  in  Part  Second.  Just  here  there  is  room  only  to 
say  that  two  canoes,  of  three  men  each,  went  down  to  cut  the 
bridges;  succeeded  only  partially;  were  reported,  "One  canoe- 
load  drowned,  the  other  captured  on  the  bridge."  None  were 
drowned,  but  three  were  captured  on  the  bridge,  and  three,  after 
nearly  perishing  with  hunger,  were  captured,  ordered  shot,  got 
mixed  with  other  prisoners,  sent  to  prison  pens,  afterwards  to 
Memphis  for  exchange;  were  blown  up  on  the  Sultana,  where 
1,500  were  burned  to  death  or  drowned  and  some  were  saved. 

******** 

The  temporary  delay  caused  by  our  partial  cutting  of  their 
pontoons  was  over,  and  Hood  crossed  with  all  his  army,  driving 
in  our  little  brigade  on  flanks  and  rear,  though  Croxton  clung  to 
them  with  a  tenacity  worthy  of  success,  and  the  Second  was 
ever  at  the  rear  on  this  retreat,  but  in  this  campaign  every  regi- 


194  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

raent  of  Croxton's  brigade  vied  with  each  "other  for  the  post  of 
honor.  But  the  repeating  rifles  and  the  reputation  of  the  men 
that  bore  them,  won,  and  General  Croxton — among  the  last  to 
quit  the  field,  amid  a  shower  of  bullets  and  a  cyclone  of  shot 
and  shell — said,  "Fall  back,  Colonel.  Look  out  for  your  flanks. 
Don't  waste  your  ammunition,  but  give  them  a  blast  whenever 
it  will  count.  I  will  send  the  first  Tennessee  and  eighth  Iowa  to 
relieve  your  flankers."  And  so  the  brigade  fell  back,  before 
the  last  forlorn  hope  of  the  Confederacy.  Hood,  with 
40,000  men,  was  on  his  way  to  the  capital  of  Tennessee, 
Tennessee  the  beautiful — the  land  of  flowers  and  the  land 
of  enchanting  valleys,  the  laud  whose  every  acre  had  been 
trodden  'neath  the  feet  of  contending  armies,  every  brook  had 
drunk  of  the  best  blood  of  our  nation,  and  every  hillside  had 
gathered  to  its  bosom  the  lifeless  forms  of  our  bravest  sons — 
was  now  again  to  drink  the  bitter  cup  from  war's  devastating 
hand.  The  brigade  fell  back,  but  not  until  every  foot  of  ground 
had  been  disputed  and  we  had  fought  our  way  out  of  a  trap 
formed  by  a  large  column  of  Confederate  infantry  crossing  in 
our  rear,  and  another  force  attacking  the  men  with  the  led 
horses,  and  capturing  about  half  of  company  E,  that  had  gone 
too  far  toward  the  river,  and  killing  or  wounding  a  large  number 
of  our  men  and  horses.  But  the  regiment  gathered  themselves 
together  and  dealt  death  and  destruction  right  and  left,  and  the 
brigade,  rallying  to  their  support,  were  soon  in  a  position  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  And  this  battle  was  called  Florence.  That 
night,  on  arriving  in  camp,  about  ten  o'clock,  worn,  hungry  and 
dejected  over  the  loss  of  many  a  comrade,  orders  came  from 
General  Croxton  to  burn  all  surplus  baggage  and  be  ready  to 


IN    THE    WEST.  195 

fall  back  at  midnight.  Over  the  smoldering  ruins  of  gathered 
mementoes,  letters,  superfluous  clothing  and  what  not,  a  hasty 
supper  was  prepared  and  eaten,  and  without  sleep  the  command 
fell  back,  reaching  Taylor  Springs  by  daylight.  Investigation 
proved  that  the  reports  which  caused  this  hasty  move  were 
groundless,  and  Croxton  returned  with  his  brigade,  and  at  night 
went  into  his  old  camping  ground,  where  he  remained  in  com 
parative  quiet  for  several  days.  Hood  was  delayed  in  crossing 
two  days  by  the  episode  of  the  pontoons  referred  to,  and  by  this 
time  General  Hatch  (he  of  the  fighting  second  Iowa)  joined  us 
with  his  division  of  cavalry,  going  into  camp  three  miles  on  the 
Waynesborough  road. 

In  the  morning  it  was  reported  that  Hood  had  crossed  in 
sufficient  force  to  drive  back  all  the  forces  we  had  to  offer  him, 
and  the  second  Michigan  was  ordered  to  take  up  a  position  along 
Shoal  creek,  to  hold  in  check,  if  possible,  the  enemy  that  might 
attempt  to  cross  there.  At  ten  A.  M.  the  enemy,  in  strong  force, 
were  seen  approaching  the  ford  with  flying  colors — the  hated 
"Stars  and  Bars."  How  could  old  Colonel  Ben,  or  the  men  of 
the  Second  fall  back  without  showing  fight?  Coming  within 
close  range  the  Second  gave  them  so  vigorous  a  continued  vol- 
Jey  that  the  advance  was  checked  for  a  time.  Then  a  flank 
movement  was  looked  for  and  one  company  (all  we  could  spare) 
was  sent  in  the  direction  of  the  creek's  mouth,  where  it  emptied 
into  the  Tennessee  river.  Two  ten  pound  howitzers  supported 
our  regiment,  under  Lieutenant  Stephens,  and  all  was  quiet 
again  until  two  o'clock,  when  firing  was  heard  on  our  left,  which, 
as  it  increased,  showed  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  and  our 
position  was  about  to  be  assaulted  or  outflanked.  Suddenly  a 


196  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

masked  battery  that  had  crept  up  in  our  front,  across  the  creek, 
opened  with  six  guns,  and  their  shots  were  well-directed.  Lieu 
tenant  Stephens  maintained  the  unequal  contest  until  ordered  by 
General  Croxton  to  fall  back.  Colonel  Smith  had  suggested  to 
him  that  he  ought  to  fall  back,  but  No,  said  he,  "General  Croxton 
told  me  to  stay  until  ordered  to  move,  and  I  shall  stay."  The 
order  came  none  too  quick,  and  the  section  was  saved  by  a  hair's 
breadth.  None  of  the  Second  were  captured,  but  several  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  Hood's  Invasion  of  Tennessee  was 
marked  at  the  very  threshold  with  a  cross  of  "fire  and  blood," 
for  many  were  seen  to  fall  as  the  command  fell  back,  firing;  and 
every  officer  and  man  felt  that  a  long  struggle  was  before  him, 
for  day  nor  night  could  we  hope  for  rest  until  our  main  forces 
under  Thomas  were  reached,  or  until  such  time  as  the  sturdy  old 
general  was  ready  to  fight. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

CHOFIELD — "THE 
TENNESSEE    TO     THE      HAKPETH HALT! BUTCHERY      AT 

FRANKLIN STANLEY WILSON COX HATCH CROXTON. 

During  Hood's  crossing  of  the  Tennessee,  which  really  be 
gan  on  the  5th  of  November,  and  was  not  completed  until  the 
20th,  two  of  the  most  severe  engagements,  in  which  the  Second 
figured  prominently  had  occurred,  but  every  regiment  in  the  vicin 
ity  had  their  skirmishes,  and  Hood  was  sometimes  in  apparent  be 
wilderment  as  to  the  true  strength  of  the  forces  opposed  to 
him.  He  believed  that  the  greater  part  of  Sherman's  army  was 
with  Sherman,  in  Georgia,  and  that  it  would  be  only  a  disorgan 
ized  force  that  he  had  to  contend  with  in  Tennessee.* 

In  this  he  was  not  far  wrong;  but  when  he  showed  a  dis 
position  to  ride  over,  with  scarcely  a  halt,  veterans  of  a 

*General  Thomas  brought  from  Atlanta  only  himself  and  his  staff— all  that  was 
left  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  aside  from  the  scattered  forces  under  Rousseau, 
Schofield  and  Wilson  doing  post  duty  at  Murfreesboro,  Franklin  and  Nashville  and 
scouting  the  State.  To  re-form,  equip  and  strengthen  that  army  in  time  for  the  battle 
of  Nashville  was  a  herculean  task  that  few  generals  would  have  accomplished. 
Chattanooga  and  Murfreesboro  ought  to  be  held, and  were  held;  but  at  the  expense  of 
the  army  gathering  at  Nashville.  When  Hood  cut  loose  from  the  main  Confederate 
army  at  Atlanta,  his  objective  point  was  supposed  to  be  Chattanooga,  and  hence  the 
scattering  of  the  fragmentary  army  of  the  Cumberland,  all  over  middle  and  southern 


198  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

hundred  battles,  he  exhibited  a  weak  vanity  in  his  own  strength 
and  the  valor  of  his  followers  that  soon  developed  into  a  suc 
cession  of  disasters  for  which  he  was  not  prepared.  The  boasts 
he  indulged  in  to  citizens  along  the  route  of  his  advance  (if  true), 
in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  stamped  him  as  among  the 
most  blatant  braggarts  as  well  as  puerile  (army)  commanders. 
But  it  was  a  "forlorn  hope,"  and  as  such  the  charitable  historian 
may  ever  treat  him. 

When  he  had  safely  crossed  his  army  and  all  things  were 
ready,  the  race  began,  and  on  the  21st  of  November  Croxton's 
brigade  formed  the  rear  guard  again  as  the  rear  of  our  army 
entered  Lawrenceburg.  The  eighth  Iowa  had  been  acting  as 
rear  guard,  but  Colonel  Dorr  recognized  the  inferiority  of  his 
regiment's  armament  and  asked  to  be  relieved,  which  was  done, 
and  the  position  cheerfully  accepted  by  the  second 
Michigan.  Our  line  of  march  had  been  toward  Pulaski,  but 
on  learning  that  evacuation  had  taken  place  there,  our  route  was 
changed  toward  Columbia,  the  enemy  pressing  our  rear  guard 
furiously  all  the  afternoon,  the  Second  making  some  desperate 
stands,  and  falling  back  when  outflanked  or  about  to  be  swept 
over  by  superior  numbers. 

Thus  fighting  and  falling  back  the  afternoon  of  November 
24  wore  away;  night  came,  and  still  the  fighting  continued, 
though  with  what  result  we  could  only  guess;  and  at  10  o'clock 
the  rear  guard,  waiting  for.further  signs  of  the  enemy  and  hear 
ing  or  seeing  none  except  the  distant  camp  fires,  bivouacked  by 
the  road  side  near  Columbia.  Here  it  was  thought  our  troops 
would  make  a  desperate  attempt  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check 
for  a  time,  but  after  a  delay  of  two  days,  in  which  our  forces 


IN   THE    WEST.  199 

were  getting  their  trains  and  artillery  across  Duck  river,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Hood  was  crossing  on  our  right  below  Columbia 
and  word  was  given  to  fall  back.  During  this  delay  it  was 
thought  important  to  know  if  the  enemy  had  sent  a  column 
through  Pulaski.  To  ascertain  regarding  that  point  a  volunteer 
detail  of  one  officer  and  twelve  men  was  called  for,  to  pass  out 
through  our  lines,  on  through  the  enemy's  country,  and  go  to 
Pulaski  and  back  by  daylight.  Lieutenant  Walter  Whitte- 
more  went  in  charge  of  the  scouting  party  and  accomplished 
the  perilous  trip  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  General  Schofield. 
His  story  will  be  found  in  Part  Second. 

While  Schofield  was  in  doubt  as  to  Hood's  movements,  and 
very  much  desired  to  check  the  enemy  at  Duck  river,  he  had 
not  sufficient  force  to  guard  the  crossings  above  and  below  and 
hold  Columbia  at  the  same  time.  General  Wilson  suggested 
the  immediate  falling  back  of  the  infantry  and  trains,  as  he 
believed  Hood  could  cross  below  and  beat  us  to  Franklin. 
Schofield  was  a  much  older  man,  and  a  most  excellent  general, 
but  he  erred  in  thinking  Hood  would  not  flank  him  so  soon. 
Hood's  reputation  as  a  hard  pusher,  as  well  as  a  hard  fighter, 
had  been  well  established,  and  Schofield  found  he  had  delayed 
the  evacuation  of  Columbia  twenty-four  hours  too  long.  Our 
trains  were  in  the  way,  and  Hood's  whole  army  was  across  Duck 
river  almost  as  soon  as  Schofield's  was,  and  the  cavalry  were 
necessarily  too  much  scattered  to  form  any  serious  barrier. 

As  Hood  was  evidently  determined  to  push  on  to  Nashville, 
regardless  of  our  troops,  who  were  taking  the  most  direct  route, 
it  became  a  matter  of  some  doubt  as  to  which  should  reach  Har- 
peth  river  first.  General  Schofield  had  about  one  good  corps  of 


200  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

infantry  (parts  of  three)  and  three  or  four  small  brigades  of  cav 
alry — a  small  force,  indeed,  to  contend  with  Hood's  whole  army, 
but  we  had  the  advantage  of  being  a  little  ahead  and  could  pick 
our  own  ground,  we  thought. 

The  command  fell  back  in  good  order;  skirmishing  con 
stantly  until  about  five  or  six  miles  had  been  passed  over,  when 
camp  was  pitched  for  the  night,  and  General  Jas.  Wilson,  w  ho 
had  recently  joined  us,  assumed  command  of  all  the  cavalry. 
At  three  o'clock  next  morning  General  Wilson  sent  for  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Smith  and  informed  him  that  he  desired  the  second 
Michigan  cavalry  to  act  as  rear  guard.  The  order  to  fall  back 
was  immediate  and  the  regiment  began  to  throw  up  barricades 
across  the  pike.  Major  Nicholson  was  left  in  command  of  one 
battalion,  with  orders  to  hold  the  position  as  long  as  possible, 
while  the  main  part  of  the  regiment  fell  back  in  column  of  fours 
on  the  left  of  the  road  to  prevent  a  flank  movement.  In  a  very 
short  time  sharp  firing  was  heard  at  the  barricades,  and  the 
battalion  began  to  give  way.  Hurrying  up  to  supporting  dis 
tance,  Colonel  Smith  saw  that  Major  Nicholson  was  being  hard 
pushed.  There  was  no  time  for  forming  a  line  across  the  pike, 
therefore  the  two  battalions  under  Colonel  Smith  were  formed 
in  a  line  parallel  to  the  road,  and  as  Major  Nicholson  dashed 
past,  with  the  enemy  in  hot  pursuit,  he  was  given  time  to  pass  to 
the  rear,  when  the  repeating  rifles  opened,  and  the  enemy  retired 
in  confusion,  believing  they  had  been  drawn  into  a  trap.  But 
the  regiment  took  up  their  march  unconcernedly,  feeling  well 
assured  that  future  operations  against  the  rear  guard  would  not 
be  of  the  "rush  or  hurrah"  style.  Yet  the  enemy  followed  closely 
for  about  three  miles  until  we  came  up  with  our  troops,  formed 


IN   THE    WEST.  201 

in  line  of  battle.  But  the  enemy  declined  to  fight,  and  each  side 
retired  a  short  distance,  our  command  remaining  in  line  of  battle 
all  night  without  camp  fires,  but  the  enemy's  fires  shone  brightly, 
for  they  were  apparently  enjoying  themselves.  During  the  past 
two  days  our  rear  guard  was  frequently  marching  parallel  to 
and  even  with  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy,  on  another 
road,  in  plain  sight,  neither  army  stopping  to  fire,  but  apparently 
striving  to  reach  Franklin  first.  When  our  regiment  reached 
Springhill,  Hood  had  thrown  Cheatham's  division  against  our 
infantry  lines,  and  for  a  time  our  position  was  very  desperate, 
but  the  infantry  immediately  showed  fight,  and  our  cavalry 
coming  up  at  the  time,  Cheatham  retired,  with  night  coming  on. 
Hood  was  very  bitter  against  Cheatham  for  not  taking  and  hold 
ing  the  road,  but  it  would  have  been  no  easy  task  for  him  at 
that  hour  of  the  day  to  have  brought  his  troops  over  the  soft 
country,  without  roads,  in  time  to  have  entirely  checked  so 
desperate  a  lot  of  men  as  formed  the  rear  of  Schofield's  army, 
aided  by  the  repeating  '  rifles  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry. 
There  was  a  short,  sharp  engagement,  but  the  Confederates  drew 
off.  On  the  29th  of  November,  General  Schofield  determined  to 
give  Hood  a  warm  reception  at  Franklin  and  at  the  same  time 
rescue  his  trains  and  artillery,  that  were  making  all  possible  haste 
in  crossing  the  Harpeth.  There  was  no  bridge  except  the  rail 
road  bridge  and  the  ford  was  bad — the  banks  twenty  feet  high, 
cut  deep,  muddy,  and  the  constant  plowing  through  of  army 
wagons  made  the  crossing  almost  impossible.  All  day  and  all 
night  the  shout  of  mule  drivers,  the  rattle  and  chuck  of  wheels, 
the  burning  of  buildings,  turned  Franklin  into  a  veritable  pande 
monium. 


202  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

But  out  at  the  front  there  was  work  of  a  more  serious 
character  going  on.  Hood's  troops  could  not  move  up  in  time  to 
force  the  fighting  during  the  forenoon,  and  little  more  than 
general  skirmishing  occurred.  But  this  was  done  chiefly  by 
the  cavalry.  The  infantry  were  apparently  determined  not  to  - 
be  hurried  out  of  Franklin  nor  lose  any  of  the  trains,  and  when 
shovels  and  picks  were  passed  along  the  lines,  dirt  flew  up  in 
rows  extending  from  river  to  river — a  complete  semi-circle  en 
vironing  the  town,  with  laps  and  cuts  at  the  roads,  and  here 
Schofield  defied  Hood  with  all  his  victorious  army,  and  that 
memorable  30th  of  November  (of  which  more  later)  stamped 
Schofield,  Cox,  Stanley  and  Wilson  as  among  our  ablest  gen 
erals. 

But  let  us  follow  the  second  cavalry  a  little  further.  Cross 
ing  the  Harpeth  on  the  night  of  the  29th,  to  be  at  hand  should 
any  raiders  attempt  to  cut  off  our  communications  with  Nash 
ville,  they  again  crossed  the  Harpeth  to  the  south  side  on  the 
morning  of  the  30th,  and  with  one  battalion  of  the  first  Tenn 
essee  were  ordered  to  hold  the  Lewisburg  pike  to  the  very  last. 
They  were  in  position  at  daylight — their  left  resting  on  the 
Harpeth  river,  with  a  small  creek  running  in  our  front.  This 
position  was  unassailed  until  about  eleven  in  the  morning,  when 
the  enemy  began  to  reconnoiter,  soon  forming  a  line  of  battle,  and 
moved  steadily  forward,  with  the  apparent  determination  of 
sweeping  down  the  Harpeth  and  turning  Schofield's  left  flank. 
Had  they  succeeded  in  this  the  result  must  have  been  most  dis 
astrous  to  General  Schofield;  but  though  the  creek  was  easy  to 
ford  the  Second  did  not  permit  them  to  cross.1  Our  position 
was  well  chosen,  and  the  enemy  fell  back  at  the  second  round. 


IN    THE    WEST.  205 

But  this  was  Forrest's  cavalry,  or  a  portion  of  it — the  pride  of 
Hood's  army,  and  the  boast  of  every  individual  member.  They 
were  not  disposed  to  give  way  so  easily,  but  came  again  with 
something  like  their  Thompson's  station  vigor.  Their  ranks 
were  shattered,  but  quickly  re-formed,  and  moving  steadily  up  to 
charging  distance,  burst  forth,  a  perfect  avalanche  of  horses  and 
men,  and  in  a  moment  more  would  surely  sweep  back  across  the 
Harpeth  our  little  band  of  rifles.  But  there  was  the  creek  to 
cross — down  and  up — and  the  range  was  close.  Again  that  row 
of  rifles  gleamed  in  strong,  vigorous  arms;  along  those  barrels 
quick  eyes  caught  the  sights;  the  finger,  true  to  the  eye,  fondles 
the  trigger — for  an  instant  only — and,  one!  two!  three!  times 
500  bullets  sped  true  to  the  mark,  and  not  a  soul  crossed  the 
stream. 

This  quieted  the  enemy  in  that  quarter,  and  at  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  regiment  fell  back  about  a  mile  (they  had 
been  holding  a  position  two  or  three  miles  southeast  of  Frank 
lin).  The  colonel  had  barricades  thrown  across  the  pike,  extend 
ing  from  wood  to  wood,  and  there  it  was  decided  a  final  stand 
should  be  made  previous  to  crossing  the  Harpeth,  as  we  knew  we 
must. 

General  Croxton  came  riding  down  the  road — his  brigade 
being  not  far  away,  ready  to  move  as  his  help  was  needed — and 
remarked  to  Colonel  Smith  that  everything  seemed  quiet.  Not 
an  enemy  in  sight  nor  a  sound  from  the  wooded  depths  in  front. 
Our  own  men  were  under  cover  and  quiet,  and  the  General  was 
evidently  ruminating  in  his  own  mind  whether  to  express  an 
opinion  as  to  the  presence  or  absence  of  the  enemy,  when  he  was- 
aroused  by  a  shot  dropped  in  front  of  his  horse  from  an  unseen. 


204  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

foe.  The  spell  was  broken.  The  General  "took  cover"  and  had 
little  to  say,  except  to  caution  them,  about  keeping  their  retreat 
ing  route  open,  and  hold  the  ground  as  long  as  possible.  In 
this  quiet  position  the  regiment  remained  until  three  o'clock, 
when  Captain  Hodges,  with  company  I,  was  ordered  to  recon- 
noiter,  mounted,  but  not  bring  on  an  engagement. 

The  order  was  carried  out,  the  advance  of  the  enemy  driven 
back  a  short  distance,  and,  retiring,  company  I  took  up  the 
position  of  advanced  videttes. 

Quieting  down  again,  an  orderly  came  from  General  Crox- 
ton,  saying,  "If  you  are  whipping  the  rebels,  go  in!" 

The  Second  well  knew  that  only  fifty  rods  away  the  enemy 
lurked  in  strong  force,  waiting  for  developments,  or  orders  from 
Hood,  yet  there  was  an  eagerness  to  break  the  spell.     Company 
K  was  placed  in  a  position  to  guard  our  retreat,  and  the  regi" 
ment,  mounting,  moved  forward  without  hesitation;  first  a  walk, 
then  a  trot,  and  struck  the  enemy  at  a  run.     But  the  advance  of 
the  enemy  was  only  a  small  force  compared  with  their  solid  lines 
under   cover   of    the   woods  and   brush,  and   when  these  were 
reached,  up  rose  two  lines  of  infantry  and  poured  a  rattling  fire 
into  our  regiment.     But  our  movement  was  so  sudden  they  had 
Ho  time   to   aim,  and   fired  wild,  doing  little  damage;  but  the 
order  was  given  to  fall  back,  fighting,  and  carried  out  literally. 
We  had  stirred  them   up  and  were  prepared   to   take  the 
consequences,  and  a  very   stubborn    fall    back  fight  continued 
past     our     former     position — our     reserve    being    also    swept 
back    with    the   others — the   last    to    cross  the   river,  some  of 
the  men  being  dragged  across,  clinging  to  a  comrade's    horse, 
and    some    of    them    captured;    no    time    for    mounting,    the 


IN    THE    WEST.  205 

woods  swarming  with  Confederates,  and  the  air  thick  with 
bullets;  but  for  some  reason  their  firing  was  wild  and 
comparatively  few  were  hit.  Our  friends  were  ready  to  receive 
us  and  check  the  enemy,  which  they  did  at  the  banks  of  the 
Harpeth,  and  the  left  flank  of  our  army  was  held  firmly;  while 
the  firing  in  front  of  Franklin  increased  to  a  roar. 

That  our  regiment  of  probably  less  than  500  men  should 
have  been  able  to  charge  into  and  fall  back  fighting  so  large  a 
force  that  they  were  not  all  captured  or  shot  before  they  could 
have  retreated  across  that  stream,  was  indeed  a  marvel — not  an 
easv  ford  under  any  circumstances.  But  Croxton  complimented 
them  upon  their  tenacious  disputing  of  the  ground,  "You  have 
made  the  best  cavalry  fight  I  have  seen  during  the  war,"  said  he, 
and  the  brigade  felt  they  could  hold  their  present  position,  if  Scho- 
field  could  only  take  care  of  himself.  But  the  odds  were  fear 
fully  against  him  in  numbers,  though  the  position  of  our  infan 
try  was  greatly  in  our  favor;  and  the  continuous  replies  to  vol 
leys  with  volley  told  us  that  a  terrible  battle  was  being  fought  in 
the  center,  on  Carter's  creek  and  Columbia  pikes.  Here  it  was 
that  two  divisions  met  in  deadly  clash  of  bayonet,  in  the  clear^ 
broad  highway.  The  charge  was  led  by  that  gallant  young 
oificer,  General  Pat  Cleburne,  and  when  he  and  his  horse  fell, 
our  men  caught  him  over  the  earthworks  and  a  hand  to  hand 
fight  ensued  for  his  body.  All  along  the  line  desperate  strug 
gles  were  seen  between  big  limbed  men  of  the  North  and  thin, 
catlike  men  of  the  South.  Clubbing  of  muskets,  thrusting 
of  bayonets,  casting  about,  cutting,  slashing  and  grasping 
in  a  vice-like  grip  of  death,  the  nearest  foe,  when  arms 
failed  them.  'See  that  big  captain — his  coat  torn  from  his- 


,206 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 


body,  shirt  sleeve  in  shreds,  his  brawny  arm  waving  defiantly 
aloft  and  in  his  hand  a  sword,  reeking  with  blood,  and  from 
half  a  dozen  cuts  and  thrusts  on  his  arm,  small,  red  streams  flow 
down  to  his  elbow.  He  does  not  seem  to  know  that  he  is 
wounded,  nor  care,  for  he  has  cleared  a  space  about  him  and 
man  of  his  company  is  doing  his  full  duty. 


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FRANK  I. IX. 


Deeds  of  personal  valor  were  too  common  to  enumerate, 
even  if  the  names  were  known  to  the  writer  (which  they  are 
not),  but  there  was  one  desperate  man  from  an  Illinois  regiment, 
whose  name,  were  it  known,  would  be  cheerfully  placed  here. 
Skilled  in  the  use  of  the  bayonet,  whole  squads  went  down 
before  his  awful  swinging  thrusts,  and  to  him  more  than  to  any 


IN    THE    WEST.  207 

one  man  was  due  the  glory  of  checking  that  desperate  charge  of 
the  enemy,  which  resulted  in  the  cutting  off  and  capture  of  a 
whole  brigade  of  Confederates  that  had  passed  too  far  through 
our  lines.  '  s 

When  the  enemy  appeared  in  force  Wagner's  division  of 
Stanley's  corps  was  out  at  the  front  on  the  Carter's  creek  pike, 
and  the  Confederates  came  with  such  impetuosity  that  the  divis 
ion  was  hurled  back  upon  our  earthworks,  and  many  of  the  Con 
federates  came  over  the  works  with  our  men;  but  few  of  them 
got  away  again,  for  as  soon  as  the  Federals  had  disentangled 
themselves  and  took  up  position  behind  the  works,  they  turned 
upon  the  enemy,  captured  nearly  a  brigade,  and  probably  during 
the  next  hour  more  men  were  killed  and  wounded  as  compared 
with  the  number  engaged,  than  at  any  other  period  of  the  war. 

An  eye  witness,  Mr.  S.  B.  Miller,  a  member  of  the  one 
hundredth  Ohio  infantry,  stood  very  near  General  Cleburne  when 
he  fell.  He  says:  The  awful  roar,  the  whistling  lead,  the 
shouts,  shrieks  and  groans  checked  many  a  strong  man  as  if 
paralyzed  at  thought  of  the  certain  fate  before  him.  I  saw  three 
Confederates  standing  within  our  lines,  as  if  they  had  dropped 
down  unseen  from  the  sky.  They  stood  there  for  an  instant, 
guns  in  hand,  neither  offering  to  shoot  nor  surrender — dazed  as 
in  a  dream.  I  raised  my  gun,  but  instinctively  I  felt  as  if 
about  to  commit  murder — they  were  helpless,  and  I  turned  my 
face  to  the  foe  trying  to  clamber  over  our  abatis.  When  I  looked 
again  the  three  were  down — apparently  dead;  whether  shot  by 
their  own  men  or  ours,  who  could  tell  ? 

Colonel  Wolf,  commanding  the  fourth  Ohio,  was  with  the 
second  and  third  brigades  of  Wagner's  division,  placed,  by  orders 


208  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

from  General  Stanley,  commanding  the  fourth  corps,  about  1,100 
yards  in  front  of  the  breastworks,  with  instructions  not  to  be 
caught  fighting  out  there,  but  immediately  fall  back  behind  the 
earthworks,  if  Hood  made  a  forward  movement  in  force. 

General  Stanley  had  been  more  than  half  sick  for  a  day  or 
two,  and  was  lying  down  in  his  tent  near  Fort  Granger,  where 
also  General  Schofield  had  his  headquarters.  A  staff  officer 
was  sent  a  second  time  to  see  if  Wagner  understood  the  order, 
but  the  poorest  charity  we  can  extend  him  is  that  he  (Wagner) 
must  have  been  drunk  (and  Colonel  Wolf  says  he  was).  Wagner 
said  he  understood  his  business,  and  the  officer  set  out  to  return. 
Suddenly  General  Stanley  hears  musket  firing.  Springing  to- 
his  feet,  and  seizing  his  field  glass,  he  was  horrified  to  see  Wag 
ner  fighting  Hood's  whole  army  with  two  small  brigades  (less- 
than  a  thousand  men).  Forgetting  his  illness,  Stanley  vaults 
into  the  saddle  and  dashes  across  the  river  in  time  to  assist 
Opdyke  with  his  brigade,  th  e  first  (second  division,  fourth  corps),, 
in  striking  the  Confederate  column  charging  down  the  pike,  on 
the  enemy's  left  (from  Opdyke's  right)  he,  Opdyke,  being  on 
our  right  of  the  pike,  just  in  rear  of  the  works  at  Carter's  house, 
and  in  this  charge  General  Stanley,  who  rode  in  front  of  the  left 
of  Opdyke's  brigade,  was  wounded  and  his  horse  killed.  It  was 
a  most  gallant  deed,  and  ought  long  ago  to  have  received  better 
recognition  from  his  country  as  well  as  enrolled  him  among  the 
famous  heroes  of  the  war.  But  the  deed  would  not  have  been 
possible  with  a  less  quick,  clear-headed  brigade  commander  or  a 
less  gallant  fighting  brigade. 

In  the  meantime  how  fares  it  with  General  Cox  and  his 
twenty-third  corps  ?  Wagner  had  allowed  the  enemy  to  come 


IN    THE    WEST.  209 

right  among  our  men  by  his  foolish  order  to  "hold  the  ground 
at  all  hazards"  and  they  came  over  the  earthworks  together, 
and  Cox  could  not  for  a  few  minutes  tell  friend  from  foe  in  the 
horrid  din  and  thick  smoke.  But  did  they  run?  For  a  brief 
instant,  only,  did  the  right  of  the  brigade  next  to  the  pike  fall 
back  as  the  enemy  swung  around  the  end  of  the  breastworks, 
but  as  soon  as  the  lines  of  blue  and  gray  were  drawn  then  came 
a  crash  of  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets,  axes,  pickaxes,  hatchets, 
and  whatever  was  most  convenient  at  close  quarters,  for  they 
could  not  load  to  shoot,  and  here  it  was  that  the  celebrated  cross 
ing  of  bayonets  was  witnessed,  to  which  reference  has  been  made 
earlier  in  these  pages. 

We  are  accustomed  to  treat  illustrations  of  battle  scenes  as 
highly  overdrawn,  but  Colonel  Wolf  says:*  "It  would  be  im 
possible  to  picture  that  scene  in  all  its  horrors.  I  saw  a  Con 
federate  soldier,  close  to  me,  thrust  one  of  our  men  through  with 
the  bayonet,  and  before  he  could  draw  his  weapon  from  the  ghastly 
Avound  his  brains  were  scattered  on  all  of  us  that  stood  near,  by 
the  butt  of  a  musket  swung  with  terrific  force  by  some  big  fel 
low  whom  I  could  not  recognize  in  the  grim  dirt  and  smoke  that 
enveloped  us.  And  as  I  glanced  hurriedly  around  and  heard 
the  dull  thuds,  I  turned  from  the  sickening  sight  and  was  glad  to 
hide  the  vision  in  work  with  a  hatchet,  for  I  had  broken  my 
sword.  A  rebel  colonel  came  over  the  breastworks  with  me 
We  raised  at  the  same  instant  to  strike;  I  had  the  advantage — 
we  were  close  together;  catching  his  sword  near  the  butt,  and 
raising  my  hatchet,  I  demanded  his  surrender.  He  did  so  and 

*Since  the  interview  with  Colonel  Wolf  he  has  gone  t<5  his  last  muster.  He 
died  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  of  injuries  received  twenty  years  ago,  and  the  immense 
gathering  at  his  funeral  attested  the  popularity  of  this  physically  wrecked  hero. 


210  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

passed  to  the  rear.  Then  our  brigade  was  all  mixed  up  with 
Cox's  corps,  and  in  all  the  enemy  were  repulsed  eleven  times." 

General  Cox  in  person  directed  his  corps  and  they  did 
valiant  service.  He  and  General  Stanley  should  share  the 
honors  of  that  victory  equally  with  Schofield. 

Again,  let  us  turn  to  our  cavalry.  Their  part  is  an  all- 
portant  one  to-day.  General  Schofield  could  never  retreat  across 
Harpeth  river  were  it  not  for  the  aid  his  cavalry  is  giving  him. 
Neither  is  the  artillery  idle.  Far  from  it;  but  have  been  doing 
heroic  service  all  day. 

When  the  enemy  in  front  of  Croxton's  brigade  saw  and 
heard  what  was  taking  place  on  the  center  they  became  stirred 
up  to  desperation.  They  succeeded  in  crossing  a  portion  of  their 
force  further  to  our  left,  and,  forming  in  line,  were  about  to 
attack  us.  A  company  from  some  other  regiment,  armed  with 
carbines,  rode  out,  and,  firing  a  volley,  retired  to  load,  returning 
to  fire.  The  Second  were  at  once  sent  to  take  their  places,  a*id 
moving  quietly  along  without  returning  a  shot  until  at  close 
range,  the  brigade  supporting  on  the  flanks,  a  volley  was  given 
and  only  twice  repeated,  when  the  enemy  broke  and  fled  across 
the  Harpeth,  closely  pursued  by  the  Second;  so  closely,  in  fact, 
as  to  compel  them  to  leave  their  ambulances,  filled  with  wound 
ed,  in  the  middle  of  the  river. 

This  closed  the  fighting  on  the  left  of  that  memorable  bat 
tle  of  Franklin  and  was  about  the  last  firing  at  any  point — a 
battle  in  which  thirteen  Confederate  generals  were  either  killed 
or  wounded,  and  5,000  Confederates  placed  hors  de  combat. 

The  Second  was  in  the  saddle  from  daylight  until  nine 
o'clock  at  night;  they  fired  the  first  and  last  guns  (except  the 


IN    THE    WEST.  211 

straggling  fire  of  the  artillery)  and  were,  probably,  the  only 
regiment  that  went  into  the  same  camp  they  left  in  the  morning. 
The  regimental  losses  were: 

Killed— Wm.  Price,  Co.  G. 

Wounded— Co.  A — C.  Berg,  left  side;  Robt.  Armstrong, 
right  side;  Wm.  Clark,  arm.  Co.  C— Corp.  Daniel  C.  Marsac, 
left  thigh.  Co.  D— Sergt.  John  Vogle,  right  ankle;  Corp. 
Martin  DeGroot,  left  foot,  slight;  James  Quant,  abdomen, 
mortally;  Mark  Losso,  lower  lobe  of  left  lung,  mortally;  Fred. 
Monsur,  left  shoulder.  Co.  F— Corp.  Warren  Green,  left  thigh; 
Wm.  Sherwood,  right  leg.  Co.  G— Miles  B.  Hunt,  back  of 
neck;  Charles  Beckwith,  leg,  flesh  wound;  Jefferson  N.  Camp 
bell,  ankle.  Co.  H— Corp.  Delos  Rennell,  right  arm. 

Missing  in  action — Frank  Zahimger,  Co.  M;  Richard 
Welch,  L. 

Taken  prisoners — John  Snyder,  Co.  K;  Sanford  Mill,  K; 
Robert  Gamble,  K. 

Thick  darkness  settled  down  over  the  scene.  The  deep 
bello wings  of  Fort  Granger  continued  long  into  the  night,  pro 
voking  only  spasmodic  replies  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  and 
these  shots  went  screeching  over  the  city,  or,  occasionally  drop 
ping  low,  went  crashing  into  houses,  whose  inmates  lay  crouching 
in  mortal  terror  in  cellars  and  low  places. 

But  at  last  our  army,  with  all  its  trains,  was  across  the 
Harpeth,  and  the  enemy,  creeping  forward  into  the  town,  over 
the  battle-field,  were  followed  by  their  artillery  planting  a  bat 
tery  at  twelve  o'clock  close  to  our  deserted  works,  where  the 
fighting  had  been  hardest,  and  the  ground  was  yet  covered  with 
dead,  and  where  the  shrieks  of  the  dying  were  most  horrible,  as 
the  horses  went  crushing  and  tearing  along,  heedless  of  all 
human  cries.  For  this  was  war,  with  all  pity  buried;  all  sympa 
thetic  tears  dried  up;  friendship  dead. 


212  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

And  so  the  little  squad  of  cavalry  that  remained  to  be  the 
very  last  to  cross,  heard  the  sickening  cries,  silently  preceded 
the  scouting  forces  of  the  enemy,  often  standing  within  twenty 
feet  of  them  without  being  seen;  saw  them  enter  our  deserted 
supply  depot  and  gather  up  abandoned  food;  followed  them 
along  the  deserted  streets,  and  down  into  the  thick  darkness  and 
mud  of  the  river  bottom,  and  saw  them  when  they  paused  to 
listen  to  our  moving  troops  beyond  the  ford — then  turning, 
escorted  them,  at  a  respectful  distance,  well  up  into  the  town, 
and,  turning  aside,  recrossed  the  Harpeth  and  reported  to  Gen 
eral  Croxton,  "All  are  safely  crossed  and  the  rebels  are  appar 
ently  satisfied  for  to-night."  This  was  done  by  three  men  of  the 
second  Michigan  cavalry. 

The  fords  of  the  river  were  picketed  by  our  brigade,  orders 
issued  to  be  in  the  saddle  by  daylight,  and  comparative  quiet 
reigned  over  this  once  peaceful  valley,  broken  only  by  the  shift 
ing  of  artillery  positions,  and  the  low  wail,  mingled  with  occa 
sional  shrieks,  that  came  floating  on  the  morning  air  from  that 
field  of  horrors — the  plains  of  Franklin. 

Hood's  report  on  Springhill  and  Franklin  will  be  found 
interesting,  as  giving  his  version  of  affairs.  He  says: 

I  left  General  Lee  to  menace  General  Schofield's  front  at 
Columbia,  while  I  crossed  Duck  river  below  and  pushed  rapidly 
forward  to  Springhill  to  cut  off  Schofield. 

Arriving  near  the  Franklin  pike  I  saw  the  enemy  passing 
their  trains  and  part  of  their  forces  rapidly  towards  Franklin. 
Turning  to  General  Cheatham,  I  said,  "General,  do  you  see  the 
enemy  retreating  rapidly  to  escape  us?  Go,  with  your  corps, 
take  possession  of  and  hold  that  pike,*  and  turn  all  those  wagons 
over  to  our  side  of  the  house." 

*'kWhy  Cheatham  did  not  get  there,"  see  Part  Second. 


IN    THE    WEST.  213 

Little  musketry  firing  was  heard  in  this  direction.  By  this 
hour  twilight  was  upon  us,  and  General  Cheatham  rode  up  in 
person.  * 

Turning  to  Cheatham  I  exclaimed  with  deep  emotion,  as  I 
felt  the  golden  opportunity  fast  slipping  from  me:  "General, 
why,  in  the  name  of  God,  have  you  not  attacked  the  enemy  and 
taken  possession  of  that  pike?"  He  replied  that  the  line  looked 
a  little  too  long  for  him,  and  that  Stewart  should  first  form  on 
his  right.  *  *  *  It  was  reported  to  me  after 

this  hour  that  the  enemy  was  marching  along  the  road,  almost 
under  the  light  of  the  camp  fires  of  the  main  body  of  the  army. 

The  Federals,  with  immense  wagon  trains,  were  permitted 
to  march  by  us  the  remainder  of  the  night  within  gun  shot  of 
our  lines.  I  could  not  succeed  in  arousing  the  troops  to  action, 
when  one  good  division  would  have  sufficed  to  do  the  same  work 
and  could  have  routed  that  portion  of  the  enemy  which  were  at 
Springhill  and  would  have  taken  possession  of  and  formed  a 
line  across  the  road,  and  thus  made  it  an  easy  matter  for  Stew 
art's  corps,  Johnson's  division  and  Lee's  two  divisions  from 
Columbia,  to  have  enveloped,  routed  and  captured  Schofield's 
army  that  afternoon  and  the  ensuing  day.  General  Forrest  gal 
lantly  opposed  the  enemy  further  down  to  our  right,  to  the  full 
extent  of  his  power;  beyond  this,  nothing  whatsoever  was  done, 
although  never  was  a  grander  opportunity  offered  to  utterly 
rout  and  destroy  the  Federal  army. 

General  Hood  thus  lays  the  blame  upon  his  subordinates 
for  failure  in  crushing  Schofield,  and  probably  he  was  more  than 
half  right. 

But  next  day  Cheatham,  Cleburne  and  other  prominent  gen 
erals  redeemed  themselves  at  Franklin  (in  Hood's  eyes),  though 
they  did  not  succeed  in  driving  Schofield  into  the  Harpeth  river, 
as  Hood  confidently  asserted  he  would. 

But  it  appears  from  General  Cleburne's  last  words  that  he 
was  not,  as  has  been  asserted,  opposed  to  the  movement  on 


214  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

Franklin.  Said  he  to  Hood,  "General,  I  am  ready,  and  have  more 
hope  in  the  final  success  of  our  cause,  than  I  have  had  at  any 
time  since  the  first  gun  was  fired." 

"God  grant  it."    , 

He  turned  and  moved  at  once  towards  the  head  of  his  divis 
ion;  a  few  moments  thereafter  he  was  lost  to  my  sight  in  the 
tumult  of  battle.  *  *  *  Within  forty  minutes  he  lay 
lifeless  upon  the  breastworks  of  the  foe. 

General  Schofield's  official  report  of  that  sanguinary  contest 
is  given  here  that  the  reader  may  form  some  slight  idea  of  the 
desperateness  of  that  battle: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  OHIO. 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  7th,  1864. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

Commanding  Department  of  the  Cumberland 
and  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi: 

GENERAL: — I  arrived  at  Franklin  with  the  head  of  the  col 
umn,  a  little  before  daylight  on  the  30th,  and  found  no  wagon 
bridges  for  crossing  the  river,  and  the  fords  in  very  bad  con 
dition.  I  caused  the  railroad  bridge  to  be  prepared  for  crossing 
wagons,  had  a  foot  bridge  built  for  infantry,  which,  fortunately, 
also  proved  available  for  wagons,  and  used  the  fords  as  much  as 
possible.  I  hoped,  in  spite  of  the  difficulties,  to  get  all  my 
material,  including  the  public  property  and  a  large  train  at 
Franklin,  across  the  river,  and  move  the  army  over  before  the 
enemy  could  get  up  force  enough  to  attack  me.  But  I  put  the 
troops  in  position,  as  they  arrived,  on  the  south  side,  the  twenty 
third  corps  on  the  left  and  center,  covering  Columbia  and 
Lewisburg  pikes,  and  General  Kimball's  division  of  the  fourth 
corps  on  the  right,  both  flanks  resting  on  the  river. 

Two  brigades  of  General  Wagner's  division  were  left  in 
advance  to  retard  the  enemy's  movements,  and  General  Wood's 


IN   THE    WEST.  215 

division  and  some  artillery  were  moved 'to  the  north  bank  of 
the  river,  to  cover  the  flanks,  should  the  enemy  attempt  to  cross 
above  or  below. 

The  enemy  followed  close  after  our  rear  guard,  brought  up 
and  deployed  two  full  corps  with  astonishing  celerity  and  moved 
rapidly  forward  to  the  attack.  Our  outposts,  imprudently 
brave,  held  their  ground  too  long  and  hence  were  compelled  to 
come  in  at  a  run.  In  passing  over  the  parapet,  they  carried 
with  them  the  troops  of  the  line  for  a  short  space,  and  thus  per 
mitted  a  few  hundred  of  the  enemy  to  get  in.  But  the  reserves, 
near  by,  sprang  forward,  regained  the  parapet,  and  captured 
those  of  the  enemy  who  had  passed  in.  The  enemy  assaulted 
persistently  and  continuously,  with  his  whole  force,  from  about 
half  past  three  P.  M.,  until  after  dark,  and  made  numerous  inter 
mittent  attacks  at  a  few  points  until  about  ten  o'clock  p.  M.  He 
was  splendidly  repulsed  along  the  whole  line  of  attack.  The 
enemy  attacked  on  a  front  of  about  two  miles,  extending  from 
our  left  to  our  right  center,  General  Kimball's  left  brigade. 
Our  two  right  brigades  were  only  slightly  engaged. 

I  believe  the  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  cannot 
have  been  less  than  5,000  and  may  have  been  much  greater. 
We  captured  702  prisoners  and  33  stands  of  colors. 

Our  loss,  as  officially  reported,  was  as  follows: 

COMMANDS.  KILLED.  WOUNDED.  MISSING.  AGGREGATE. 

First  Division,  Fourth  Corps.  5  37  18  60 

Second  Division,     "  52  519  670  1,241 

Artillery                   "            "  10  51  6  67 

Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Corps  30  142  135  307 

Third                                   "          "  48  185  97  330 

Seventy-second  Regt.,  111.  Vols.  10  62  86  158 

Forty-fourth          "     Md.      "  34  37  92  163 


Total  189          1,033        1,104  2,326 

On  my  arrival  at  Franklin,  I  gained  the  first  intelligence 
from  General  Wilson  since  the  enemy  commenced  his  advance 
from  Duck  river.  I  learned  that  he  had  been  driven  rapidly 


216  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

back  and  had  crossed  the  Harpeth  above  Franklin  on  the  preced 
ing  day,  leaving  my  left  and  rear  entirely  open  to  the  enemy's 
cavalry.* 

A  short  time  before  the  infantry  attack  commenced,  the 
enemy's  cavalry  found  a  crossing  about  three  miles  above  Frank 
lin,  drove  back  our  cavalry,  for  a  time  severely  threatening  our 
trains,  which  were  accumulated  on  the  Viorth  bank  leading 
towards  Nashville.  I  sent  General  Wilson  orders,  which  he  had, 
however,  anticipated,  to  drive  the  enemy  back  at  all  hazards, 
and  moved  a  brigade  of  General  Wood's  division  to  support  him, 
if  necessary.  At  the  moment  of  the  first  decisive  repulse  of 
the  enemy's  infantry,  I  received  the  most  gratifying  intelligence 
that  General  Wilson  had  driven  the  rebel  cavalry  back  across 
the  river.  This  rendered  my  immediate  left  and  rear  secure 
for  the  time  being. 

My  experience  on  the  29th  had  shown  how  utterly  inferior 
in  numbers  my  cavalry  force  was,  to  that  of  the  enemy,  and 
that  even  my  immediate  flanks  and  rear  were  quite  insecure, 
while  my  communication  with  Nashville  was  entirely  without 
protection.  I  could  not  even  rely  upon  getting  up  the  ammu 
nition  necessary  for  another  battle.  To  remain  at  Franklin  was 
to  seriously  hazard  the  loss  of  my  army  by  giving  the  enemy 
another  chance  to  cut  me  off  from  reinforcements,  which  he  had 
made  three  desperate,  though  futile  attempts,  to  accomplish. 

I  had  detained  the  .enemy  long  enough  to  enable  you  to  con 
centrate  your  scattered  troops  at  Nashville,  which  was  the 
primary  object,  and  had  succeeded  in  inflicting  upon  him  very 
heavy  losses.  I  had  found  it  impossible  to  detain  him  long 
enough  to  get  reinforcements  at  Franklin.  Only  a  small  portion 
of  the  infantry  and  none  of  the  cavalry  could  reach  me  in  time 
to  be  of  any  service  in  the  battle,  which  must  have  been  fought 
on  the  1st  of  December. 

For  these  reasons,  after  consulting  with  the  corps  and 
division  commanders  and  obtaining  your  approval,  I  determined 

*This  was  unjust  to  General  Wilson,  as  the  careful  student  of  history  will  see. 
Portions  of  Wilson's  cavalry  were  on  every  flank,  as  well  as  guarding  his  retreating 
trains. 


IN    THE    WEST.  217 

to  retire  during  the  night  of  the  30th  towards  Nashville.  The 
artillery  was  withdrawn  to  the  north  bank  during  the  early  part 
of  the  night,  and  at  twelve  o'clock,  the  army  withdrew  from  its 
trenches  and  crossed  the  river  without  loss.  During  the  next 
day,  December  1st,  the  whole  army  was  placed  in  position  in 
front  of  Nashville. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  J.  M.  SCHOFIELD, 

Major- General, 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

BATTLE  OF   NASHVILLE HOOD'S    ARMY    DEMORALIZED HATCH'S 

CHARGE — CAVALRY      CAPTURING      EARTHWORKS GENERAL 

THOMAS'S    REPORT — CAPTURING    PRISONERS — WHAT      HOOD 
SAID — "THE  RETREAT.* 

When  on  the  morning  of  December  1st  General  Schofield 
had  safely  crosssd  the  Harpeth  with  all  his  trains,  and  was  well 
under  way  for  Nashville,  the  second  Michigan  cavalry,  as  a  part 
of  Croxton's  brigade,  formed  the  rear  guard  and  leisurely  made 
their  way  on  to  Nashville,  passing  through  our  lines  of  infantry, 
and  with  them  lay  in  line  of  battle  all  night,  five  miles  in  front 
of  Nashville. 

At  this  time  General  Thomas's  force  at  Nashville  was  com 
paratively  small  and  he  did  not  propose  to  contract  his  lines 
further  than  necessary  until  portions  of  his  army  had  joined  him 
from  other  directions  than  Franklin.  General  Thomas  knew 
that  Hood  expected  reinforcements  from  the  southwest,  and  he 
supposed  that  the  Confederate  force  was  much  greater  than  it 
really  was. 

General    Grant,   as   commander-in-chief,    urged   Thomas  to 


IN-  THE    WEST. 


219 


drive  Hood  back  before  he  had  time  to  cross  into  Kentucky. 
But  General  Thomas  understood  the  situation  even  better  than 
Grant  did,  and  took  his  own  way  to  crush  Hood.  He  knew  he 
could  drive  Hood  back,  but  that  was  not  enough.  He  meant  not 
only  to  crush,  but  to  capture  him  and  all  his  army,  and  his 
plans  were  as  nearly  carried  out  as  it  would  have  been  possible 
to  do  with  a  foe  that  had  become  wary  and  ready  to  break  cover 
and  flee  at  the  first  serious  attack  upon  his  flanks. 


NASHVILLE. 


To  be  upon  the  safe  side,  General  Thomas  sent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  cavalry  across  the  Cumberland  (the  cavalry  were 
much  too  weak  for  the  services  before  them)  to  guard  the  cross 
ings  above  and  below  the  city;  but  these  were  immediately  re- 


220  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

crossed  to  the  south  side  when   our  army   was   about   to   move, 
and  on   the  12th  of    December  the   Second    was    placed   upon 
the  right,  four  miles  out  on  the  Charlotte  pike,    and   during  the 
first  day  (the  15th)  the  regiment  swung  forward  and  to  the   left 
about  two  miles,  skirmishing  and  driving  the  enemy's   skirmish 
ers  before  them,  but  were  restrained  from   pressing  the    enemy 
too  far,  lest  the  plans  of   the  commanding  general    be   discon 
certed.     But  at  night   the   regiment  mounted   and   moved  for 
ward  six  miles  further,  making  twelve  miles  from  Nashville,    on 
the  morning  of  the  second  day  of  battle.     Here  the  regiment  and 
brigade  were  restrained     from    further    advancing,  while    the 
infantry    and  artillery  pressed  the   enemy's   center   and   man 
euvered  for  a  position    from   which   the   final   blow    was   to  be 
struck.     And  soon  it  came.     Never   did   infantry   and  cavalry 
vie  with  each  other  with  more    earnest   vigor  than    on   this   oc 
casion,  to  see  which  should  be  first  over  the   earthworks   of   the 
enemy,    with  Hatch   at  their   head.     Where   mounted   cavalry 
could  not  go,  dismounted  did  go,  with  a  rush  and  determination 
that  knew  no  checking,  and  repeating  rifles,  carbines  and  heavy 
revolvers. struck  terror  into  the   hearts  of  the  enemy  that  could 
not  have  guessed  how  so  small  a   number  kept  up  such  a  terrific 
fusilade.     Many    threw     down    their    guns    and    surrendered. 
Hundreds  threw  themselves  flat   upon   the   ground,    unharmed, 
to  escape  the    thick    blackness    of    the    storm  of   lead.     Other 
thousands  ran,  and  but  very  few  returned  a  parting  shot  after 
their  ranks  were  once  broken. 

Away  to  the  left,  on  our  center,  like  a  wave,  rolled  up  and 
over  that  rocky  mound,  a  blue  sea  of  Federals,  with  a  prolonged 
shout  so  full  of  victory  that  the  dullest  ear  could  interpret,  if  he 


IN    THE    WEST.  221 

could  not  see;  and  its  echo  was  taken  up  and  reverberated  along 
the  lines  even  to  the  farthest  hill  upon  the  left,  where  white  and 
blacks  were  mingled  in  a  death  grapple  for  an  earthwork  that 
bristled  with  bayonets  and  shook  beneath  the  incessant  thunder- 
ings  of  Hood's  artillery.  And  here  the  colored  troops  showed 
their  discipline  and  fighting  qualities  in  a  most  heroic  manner — 
the  saying  of  the  commanding  general  passing  into  history — 
"The  colored  troops  fought  nobly;"  and  from  the  Southern 
officers  the  saying — "For  a  lot  of  cattle  they  did  well." 

When  General  Hatch  saw,  from  his   position  on    the  right, 
that  the  forward  movement  was  becoming  general,   his   impetu 
osity  knew  no   bounds.     Hurling   his  entire   division   upon  the 
enemy's  wavering  left,  line  after  line  was  taken  until   the    entire 
Confederate  army  was  on  the  run.     Then  the  brigade    (General 
Croxton's),  with  the  second  Michigan  on  the   extreme  right,  was 
drawn  in   toward  the   left,  mounted,   and  joining   in  the  rush, 
captured   prisoners  continuously,  sending  them   to  the  rear,  and 
passing  on,  crossed  the  Franklin   pike   and  endeavored  to  reach 
Franklin  and  the  enemy's  front  in  time  to  cut  off   large  portions 
of   the  Confederate  army,  but  their  reserve,  though   small,   had 
enabled  them  to  retreat  in  a  less  hasty  manner  than  they   began, 
though  they  made  no  stand  of    consequence  until  after  crossing 
Duck  river  and  gained  some  little   distance   beyond  Columbia. 
But  the  cavalry  drove  them  with  little  delay  and   dogged    their 
tracks  and  harassed  their  flanks;  having  a  sharp  brush   at   Rich- 
land   creek,   and   afterward,    as  they  became   desperate,  turned 
"at  bay"  on  every  possible  advantageous  ground. 

But  the  fighting  regiments  of  our  cavalry    corps  felt  they 
had  tramped  up  and  down  through  Tennessee  too  often  to  leave 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 

the  enemy  any  hope  of  ever  crossing  the  Tennessee  river  again, 
and  they  charged  upon  every  obstruction,  firing  at  close  range, 
using  the  saber  whenever  possible,  and  this  continued  daily,  in 
all  having  about  twenty  sharp  skirmishes — sometimes  two  or 
three  daily.  In  fact  they  were  too  numerous  to  be  remembered, 
except  as  a  flying  vision  of  fire,  carnage,  rapidly  shifting  horse 
men — the  one  party  bent  on  self -protection,  fighting  for  life  and 
personal  liberty;  the  other,  with  angered,  vengeful  shouts  and 
shots,  determined  to  wipe  out  or  crush  their  enemy. 

Let  us  draw  a   curtain  over  this  pitiful  sight   and   turn  to 
that  grand  old  man,  General   Geo.    H.    ("Pap")    Thomas.     The 
nearly  twenty  years  that  have  intervened  since  that   memorable 
morning   have  not  in  the    least  dimmed    the    picture    of  human 
grandeur  that  riveted   my   attention  as,    when    passing   the  St. 
Cloud  Hotel  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,    December    15,    1864,  I  saw  the 
familiar  form  of  the  General  standing  at  the  hotel  desk,    paying 
his  bill  as  any  ordinary  traveler.     His  horse  was  at  the  door  and 
a  colored  servant  was   bearing   to   the  headquarters   ambulance 
a  small  valise.     A  part  of  his  staff   stood  to  horse,  awaiting  the 
General's  pleasure,  and  without  a  word  he  marched  out,  it  seemed 
to  me  at  that  moment  the  most  perfect  soldier  in  his  bearing  that 
I  had   ever  set  admiring   eyes  upon.     There   was   no   haughti 
ness     nor     ostentatious    parade,     but     n    quiet    dignity    that 
well  became     his     handsome    face — with    its    short,     smooth- 
cut,  red    and   gray  beard,    that   finished   off   his  well   rounded 
figure.     And  .as  he  walked  out  grandly,  modestly,  and  vaulted 
into    his  saddle,  there  was    an    unmistakable  air  of   "business" 
about  him  which  boded  no   good  for  Mr.    Hood.     He  seemed  to 
say,    "Well,  boys,  we  will  go  out  and    settle    this    little  business 
now — it's  about  the  right  time  to  stop  fooling." 


IN  THE  WEST.  223 

I  could  plainly  read  in  his  face,  "We  are  going  to  stay. 
We  will  not  be  back  to-night,  landlord."  I  turned  to  my  comrades 
and  remarked,  "You  will  hear  music  to-day."  And  here  is  what 
happened,  from  the  official  report  of  General  Thomas  himself: 

HEADQUARTERS    DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

Eastport,  Mississippi,  January  20th,  1865. 

COLONEL: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  operations  of  my 
command  from  the  date  of  the  occupation  of  Atlanta,  Georgia, 

as  follows: 

*********** 

[EXTRACT.] 

General  Schofield,  by  my  advice  and  direction,  fell  back 
during  the  night  to  Nashville,  in  front  of  which  city  lines  of 
battle  were  formed  by  noon  of  the  1st  of  December,  on  the 
hights  immediately  surrounding  Nashville,  with  Major-General  A. 
J.  Smith's  command  occupying  the  right,  his  right  resting  on  the 
Cumberland  river,  below  the  city,  the  fourth  corps  (Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Wood  temporarily  in  command)  in  the  center,  and  General 
Schofield's  troops  (twenty-third  corps)  on  the  left,  his  left  extend 
ing  to  the  Nolensville  pike.  The  cavalry,  under  General  Wilson, 
was  directed  to  take  post  on  the  left  of  General  Schofield,  which 
would  make  secure  the  interval  between  his  left  and  the  river 
above  the  city. 

General  Steadman's  troops  reached  Nashville  about  dark  on 
the  evening  of  the  1st  of  December,  taking  up  a  position  about  a 
mile  in  advance  of  the  left  center  of  the  main  line,  on  the  left 
of  the  Nolensville  pike.  This  position,  being  regarded  as  too 
much  exposed,  was  changed  on  the  3d,  when  the  cavalry  hav 
ing  been  directed  to  take  post  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  at 
Edgefield,  General  Steadman  occupied  the  space  on  the  left  of 
the  line  vacated  by  its  withdrawal.  During  the  afternoon  of 
the  2d  the  enemy's  cavalry,  in  small  parties,  engaged  our  skir 
mishers,  but  it  was  only  on  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  that  his 
infantry  made  its  appearance,  when  crowding  in  our  skirmishers, 


224  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

he  commenced  to  establish  his  main  line,  which  on   the   morning 
of  the  4th  we  found  he  had  succeeded  in   doing,  with  his  salient 
on  the  summit  of   Montgomery   hill,   within  600  yards   of   our 
center;     his  main  line  occupying  the  high  ground  on   the  south 
east  side  of  Brown's  creek,  and  extending   from   the  Nolensville 
pike — his  extreme  right — across  the  Franklin  and  Granny  White 
pikes,  in  a  westerly  direction  to  the  hills  south  and  southwest  of 
Richland  creek,  and  down  that  creek  to  the  Hillsboro  pike,  with 
cavalry  extending  from  both  his  flanks  to   the   river.     Artillery 
was  opened  on  him  from  several  points  on  the  line  without  elicit 
ing  any  response.     The  block  house    at  the  railroad  crossing  of 
Overalls  creek,  five  miles  north  of  Murfreesboro,  was  attacked  by 
Bates's  division  of  Cheatham's  corps  on  the  4th,  but  held  out  until 
assistance  reached  it  from   the   garrison  at  Murfreesboro.     The 
enemy  used  artillery  to   reduce   the   block  house,  but   although 
seventy-four  shots  were  fired  at  it  no  material  injury  was    done. 
General  Milroy  coming  up    with   three  regiments    of   infantry, 
four  companies  of  the  thirteenth  Indiana  cavalry  and  a   section 
of  artillery,  attacked  the  enemy  and  drove  him  off.     During  the 
5th,  6th  and  7th  Bates's  division,  reinforced  by  a  division  from 
Lee's  corps,  and  2,500  of  Forrest's  cavalry,  demonstrated  heavily 
against  Fortress  Rosecrans  at  Murfreesboro,  garrisoned  by  about 
8,000  men,   under  command  of  General  Rousseau.     The  enemy 
showing  an  unwillingness    to  make    a   direct    assault,    General 
Milroy  with  seven  regiments  of  infantry  was  sent  out,  on  the  8th, 
to  engage  him.     He  was  found  a  short  distance  from   the  place, 
on  the  Wilkerson  pike,  posted  behind  rail   breastworks,   was  at 
tacked  and  routed,  our  troops  capturing  20 7  prisoners   and   two 
guns,  with  a  loss  of  thirty  killed    and    175    wounded.     On   the 
same  day   Buford's  cavalry  entered   the   town  of  Murfreesboro, 
after  having  shelled  it  vigorously,  but  he   was    speedily  driven 
out  by  a  regiment  of  infantry  and   a   section    of  artillery.     On 
retiring  from  before  Murfreesboro  the  enemy's   cavalry  moved 
northward  to  Lebanon  and  along  the  bank  of  the  Cumberland  in 
that  vicinity,  threatening  to  cross  to  the  north  side  of  the   river 


IX    THE    WEST.  225 

and  interrupt  our  railroad  communication  with  Louisville,  at 
that  time  our  only  source  of  supplies,  the  enemy  having  blockaded 
the  river  below  Nashville  by  batteries  along  the  shore.  The 
Navy  Department  was  requested  to  patrol  the  river  above  and 
below  Nashville  with  the  gunboats  then  in  the  river  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  crossing,  which  was  cordially  and  effectually 
complied  with  by  Lieutenant-Commander  LeRoy  Fitch,  command 
ing  the  eleventh  division,  Mississippi  squadron.  At  the  same  time 
General  Wilson  sent  a  cavalry  force  to  Gallatin  to  guard  the 
country  in  that  vicinity.  The  position  of  Hood's  army  around 
Nashville  remained  unchanged,  with  the  exception  of  oc 
casional  picket  firing. 
»'*****«»**« 

Both  armies  were  ice  bound  for  a  week  previous  to  the  14th 
of  December,  when  the  weather  moderated.  Being  prepared  to 
move  I  called  a  meeting  of  the  corps  commanders  on  the  after 
noon  of  that  day,  and  having  discussed  the  plan  of  attack  until 
thoroughly  understood,  the  following  S.  F.  O.  No.  t  342  was 
issued. 

As  soon  as  the  state  of  the  weather  will  admit  of  offensive 
operations  the  troops  will  move  against  the  enemy's  position  in 
the  following  order: 

Major-General  A.  J.  Smith,  commanding  detachment  of  the 
army  of  Tennessee,  after  forming  his  troops  on  and  near  the 
Hardin  pike,  in  front  of  his  present  position,  will  make  a  vig 
orous  assault  on  the  enemy's  left.  Major-General  Wilson,  com 
manding  the  cavalry  corps,  military  division  Mississippi,  with 
three  divisions,  will  move  on  and  support  GeneralSmith's  right, 
assisting  as  far  as  possible  in  carrying  the  left  of  the  enemy's 
position,  and  be  in  readiness  to  throw  his  force  upon  the  enemy 
the  moment  a  favorable  opportunity  occurs.  Major-General 
Wilson  will  also  send  one  division  on  the  Charlotte  pike  to  clear 
that  road  of  the  enemy  and  observe  in  the  direction  of  Bell's 
landing  to  protect  our  right  rear  until  the  enemy's  position  is 


226  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

fairly  turned,  when  it  will  rejoin  the  main  force.  Brigadier- 
General  T.  J.  Wood,  commanding  fourth  army  corps,  after  leav 
ing  a  strong  skirmish  line  in  his  works  from  Laurens  hill  to  his 
extreme  right,  will  form  the  remainder  of  the  fourth  corps  on  the 
Hillsboro  pike,  to  support  General  Smith's  left  and  operate  on 
the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  advanced  position  on  the  Mont 
gomery  hill.  Major-General  Schofield,  commanding  twenty-third 
army  corps,  will  replace  Brigadier-General  KimbalPs  division  of 
the  fourth  corps  with  his  troops  and  occupy  the  trenches  from 
Fort  Negley  to  Laurens  hill  with  a  strong  skirmis"h  line.  He 
will  move  with  the  remainder  of  his  force  in  front  of  the  works 
and  co-operate  with  General  Wood,  protecting  the  latter's  left 
flank  against  an  attack  by  the  enemy. 

Major-General  Steadman,  commanding  district  of  the 
Eto  wah,  will  occupy  the  interior  line  in  rear  of  his  present  position, 
stretching  from  the  reservoir  on  the  Cumberland  river  to  Fort 
Negley,  with  a  strong  skirmish  line,  and  mass  the  remainder  of 
his  force  in  its  present  position  to  act  according  to  the  exigen 
cies  which  may  arise  during  the  operations. 

Brigadier-General  Miller,  with  the  troops  forming  the 
garrison  of  Nashville,  will  occupy  the  interior  line  from  the  bat 
tery  on  hill  210  to  the  extreme  right,  including  the  inclosed 
works  on  the  Hyde's  ferry  road. 

The  quartermaster's  troops,  under  command  of  Brigadier- 
General  Donaldson,  will,  if  necessary,  be  posted  on  the  interior 
line  from  Fort  Morton  to  the  battery  on  hill  210. 

The  troops  occupying  the  interior  line  will  be  under  the 
direction  of  Major-General  Steadman,  who  is  charged  with  the 
immediate  defense  of  Nashville  during  the  operations  around 
the  city.  Should  the  weather  permit,  the  troops  will  be  formed 
to  commence  operations  at  six  A.  M.  on  the  15th,  or  as  soon  there 
after  as  practicable. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  December,  the  weather  being 


IN    THE    WEST.  227 

favorable,  the  army  was  formed  and  ready  at  an  early  hour  to 
carry  out  the  plan  of  battle  promulgated  in  the  special  field 
order  of  the  14th. 

The  formation  of  the  troops  was  partially  concealed  from 
the  enemy  by  the  broken  nature  of  the  ground,  as  also  by  a  dense 
fog  which  only  lifted  toward  noon.  The  enemy  was  apparently 
totally  unaware  of  any  intention  on  our  part  to  attack  his  posi 
tion,  and  more  especially  did  he  seem  not  to  expect  any  move 
ment  against  his  left  flank. 

To  divert  his  attention  still  further  from  our  real  intentions 
Major-General  Steadman,  had  on  the  evening  of  the  14th  received 
orders  to  make  a  heavy  demonstration  with  his  command  against 
the  enemy's  right,  east  of  the  Nolensville  pike,  which  he  accom 
plished  with  great  success  and  some  loss,  succeeding,  however, 
in  attracting  the  enemy's  attention  to  that  part  of  his  line  and 
inducing  him  to  draw  reinforcements  from  towards  his  center 
and  left.  As  soon  as  General  Steadman  had  completed  his 
movement,  the  commands  of  Generals  Smith  and  Wilson 
moved  out  along  the  Hardin  pike,  and  commenced  the  grand 
movement  of  the  day,  by  wheeling  to  the  left  and  advancing 
against  the  enemy's  position  across  the  Hardin  and  Hillsboro 
pikes. 

A  division  of  cavalry  (Johnson's)  was  sent  at  the  same  time 
to  look  after  a  battery  of  the  enemy's  on  the  Cumberland  river 
at  Bell's  landing,  eight  miles  below  Nashville.  General  John 
son  did  not  get  into  position  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when,  in 
conjunction  with  the  gunboats,  under  Lieutenant-Commander 
LeRoy  Fitch,  the  enemy's  battery  was  engaged  until  after 
nightfall,  and  tjie  place  was  found  evacuated  in  the  morning. 

The  remainder  of  General  Wilson's  command,  Hatch's 
division  leading  and  Knipe's  in  reserve,  moving  on  the  right  of 
General  A.  J.  Smith's  troops,  first  struck  the  enemy  along  Rich- 
land  creek,  near  Karelin's  house,  and  drove  him  back  rapidly, 
capturing  a  number  of  prisoners,  wagons,  etc.,  and  continuing 


228  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

to  advance,  while  slightly  swinging  to' the  left,  came  upon  a 
redoubt  containing  four  guns,  which  was  splendidly  carried  by 
assault  at  1  r.  M.,  by  a  portion  of  Hatch's  division,  dismounted, 
and  the  captured  guns  turned  upon  the  enemy.  A  second  redoubt 
stronger  than  the  first  was  next  assailed  and  carried  by  the 
same  troops  that  captured  the  first  position,  taking  four  more 
guns  and  about  300  prisoners.  The  infantry,  McArthur's  divis 
ion  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command,  on  the  left  of  the  cavalry, 
participated  in  both  of  the  above  assaults,  and,  indeed,  the  dis 
mounted  cavalry  seemed  to  vie  with  the  infantry  who  should 
first  gain  the  works.  As  they  reached  the  position  nearly  simul 
taneously,  both  lay  claim  to  the  artillery  and  prisoners  captured. 

Finding  General  Smith  had  not  taken  as  much  distance  to 
the  right  as  I  expected  he  would  have  done  I  directed  General 
Schofield  to  move  his  command  (the  twenty-third  corps)  from 
the  position  in  reserve  to  which  it  had  been  assigned  over  to  the 
right  of  General  Smith,  enabling  the  cavalry  thereby  to  operate 
more  freely  in  the  enemy's  rear.  This  was  rapidly  accomplished 
by  General  Schofield,  and  his  troops  participated  in  the  closing- 
operations  of  the  day. 

The  fourth  corps,  Brigadier-General  T.  J.  Wood  command 
ing,  formed  on  the  left  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command,  and 
as  soon  as  the  latter  had  struck  the  enemy's  flank,  assaulted 
the  Montgomery  hill,  Hood's  most  advanced  position,  at  1  p.  M., 
which  was  most  gallantly  executed  by  the  third  brigade,  second 
division,  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post,  fifty-ninth  Illinois,  command 
ing,  capturing  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners.  Connecting 
with  the  left  of  Smith's  troops  (Brigadier-General  Garrard's 
division),  the  fourth  corps  continued  to  advance  and  carried  the 
enemy's  entire  line  in  its  front  by  assault,  and  captured  several 
pieces  of  artillery,  about  500  prisoners,  some  stands  of  colors 
and  other  material. 

The  enemy  was  driven  out  of  his  original  line  of  works, 
and  forced  back  to  a  new  position  along  the  base  of  ITarpeth 
hill,  still  holding  his  line  of  retreat  to  Franklin,  by  the  main 


IN    THE 'WEST.-  229 

pike  through  Brentwood  and  by  the  Granny  White  pike.  Our 
line  at  nightf nil  was  readjusted,  running  parallel  to  and  east  of 
the  Hillsboro  pike,  Schofield's  command  on  the  right,  Smith's 
in  the  center,  and  Wood's  on  the  left,  with  the  cavalry  on  the 
right  of  Schofield,  Steadman  holding  the  position  he  had  gained 
early  in  the  morning. 

The  total  result  of  the  day's  operations  was  the  capture  of 
sixteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  twelve  hundred  prisoners,  besides 
several  hundred  stands  of  small  arms  and  about  forty  wagons. 
The  enemy  had  been  forced 'back  at  all  points  with  heavy  loss, 
and  our  casualties  were  unusually  light.  The  behavior  of  the 
troops  was  unsurpassed  for  steadiness  and  alacrity  in  every 
movement,  and  the  original  plan  of  battle,  with  but  few  altera 
tions,  strictly  adhered  to. 

The  whole  command  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle  during 
the  night  on  the  ground  occupied  at  dark,  while  preparations 
were  made  to  renew  the  battle  at  an  early  hour  on  the  morrow. 

At  6  A.  M.,  on  the  16th,  Wood's  corps  pressed  back  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  across  the  Franklin  pike  to  the  eastward  of 
it,  and  then  swinging  slightly  to  the  right  advanced  due  south 
from  Nashville,  driving  the  enemy  before  him  until  he  came 
upon  his  new  main  line  of  works,  constructed  during  the  night 
on  what  is  called  Overton  hill,  about  five  miles  south  of  the 
city,  and  east  of  the  Franklin  pike.  General  Steadman  moved 
out  from  Nashville  by  the  Nolensville  pike  and  formed  his  com 
mand  on  the  left  of  General  Wood,  effectually  securing  the 
latter's  left  flank,  and  made  preparations  to  co-operate  in  the 
operations  of  the  day. 

General  A.  J.  Smith's  command  moved  on  the  right  of  the 
fourth  corps  (Wood's)  and  establishing  connection  with  General 
Wood's  right,  completed  the  rear  line  of  battle. 

General  Schofield's  troops  remained  in  the  position  taken 
up  by  them  at  dark  on  the  day  previous,  facing  eastward  and 
towards  the  enemy's  left  flank,  the  line  of  the  corps  running  per 
pendicular  to  General  Smith's  troops. 

General  Wilson's  cavalry,  which  had   rested   for   the  night 


230  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

at  the  six  mile  post  on  the  Hillsboro  pike,  was  dismounted  and 
formed  on  the  right  of  Schofield's  command,  and  by  noon  of  the 
16th  had  succeeded  in  gaining  the  enemy's  rear,  and  stretched 
across  the  Granny  White  pike,  one  of  his  two  outlets  toward 
Franklin. 

As  soon  as  the  above  dispositions  were  completed,  and  hav 
ing  visited  the  different  commands,  I  gave  directions  that  the 
movement  against  the  enemy's  left  flank  should  be  continued. 
Our  entire  line  approached  to  within  600  yards  of  the  enemy, 
at  all  points.  His  center  was  weak,  as  compared  to  either  his 
right  at  Overton  hill,  or  his  left  on  the  hills  bordering  the 
Granny  White  pike,  still  I  had  hopes  of  gaining  his  rear  and 
cutting  off  his  retreat  from  (to?)  Franklin.  About  three  P.  M. 
Post's  brigade  of  Wood's  corps,  supported  by  Straight's  brigade 
of  the  same  command,  was  ordered  by  General  Wood  to  assault 
Overton  hill.  This  intention  was  communicated  to  General 
Steadman,  who  ordered  the  brigade  of  colored  troops,  command 
ed  by  Colonel  Morgan,  fourteenth  U.  S.  C.  T.,  to  co-operate 
in  the  movement. 

The  ground  on  which  the  two  assaulting  columns  formed, 
being  open  and  exposed  to  the  enemy's  view,  he,  readily  per 
ceiving  our  intention,  drew  reinforcements  from  his  left 
and  center  to  the  threatened  point.  This  movement  of  troops 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy  was  communicated  along  the  line  from 
left  to  right.  The  assault  was  made  and  received  by  the  enemy 
with  a  tremendous  fire  of  grape,  canister  and  musketry,  our  men 
moving  steadily  onward  up  the  hill  until  near  the  crest,  when 
the  reserves  of  the  enemy  rose  and  poured  into  the  assaulting 
column  a  most  destructive  fire,  causing  the  men  first  to  waver, 
then  to  fall  back,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded,  black  and 
white  indiscriminately  mingled,  lying  amidst  the  abatis,  the 
gallant  Colonel  Post  among  the  wounded. 

General  Wood  readily  re-formed  his  command  in  the  posi 
tion  it  had  previously  occupied,  preparatory  to  a  renewal  of  the 
assault.  Immediately  following  the  effort  of  the  fourth  corps, 
Generals  Smith's  and  Schofield's  commands  moved  against  the 


IN  THE  WEST.  231 

enemy's  works  in  their  respective  fronts,  carrying  all  before 
them,  irreparably  breaking  his  lines  in  a  dozen  places  and  cap 
turing  all  of  his  artillery  and  thousands  of  prisoners,  among 
the  latter,  four  general  officers.  Our  loss  was  remarkably  small, 
and  scarcely  mentionable.  All  of  the  enemy  who  did  escape  were 
pursued  over  the  tops  of  Brentwood  or  Harpeth  hills. 

General  Wilson's  cavalry,  dismounted,  attacked  the  enemy 
simultaneously  with  Schofield  and  Smith,  striking  him  in  reverse, 
and,  gaining  firm  possession  of  the  Granny  White  pike,  cut  off 
his  retreat  by  that  route. 

Wood's  and  Steadman's  troops  hearing  the  shouts  of  victory 
coming  from  the  right  rushed  impetuously  forward,  renewing 
the  assault  on  Overton  hill,  and,  although  meeting  a  very 
heavy  fire,  the  onset  was  irresistible.  Artillery  and  innumer 
able  prisoners  fell  into  our  hands.  The  enemy,  hopelessly 
broken,  fled  in  confusion  through  the  Brentwood  pass,  the  fourth 
corps  in  close  pursuit,  which  was  continued  for  several  miles, 
when  darkness  closed  the  scene  and  the  troops  rested  from  their 
labors. 

As  "the  fourth  corps  pursued  the  enemy  on  the  Franklin 
pike,  General  Wilson  hastily  mounted  Knipe's  and  Hatch's  divi 
sions  of  his  command  and  directed  them  to  pursue  along  the 
Granny  White  pike  and  endeavor  to  reach  Franklin  in  advance 
of  the  enemy.  After  proceeding  about  a  mile  they  came  upon 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  under  Chalmers,  posted  across  the  road  and 
behind  barricades.  The  position  was  charged  by  the  twelfth 
Tennessee  cavalry,  Colonel  Spaulding  commanding,  and  the 
enemy's  lines  broken,  scattering  him  in  all  directions  and  captur 
ing  quite  a  number  of  prisoners,  among  them,  Brigadier-General 
E.  W.  Rucher. 

During  the  two  days'  operations  there  were  4,462  prisoners 
captured,  including  28*7  officers  of  all  grades  from  that  of  major- 


HUNDRED  BATTLES 

general,  fifty-three  pieces  of  artillery,  and  thousands  of  small 
arms.  The  enemy  abandoned  on  the  field  all  of  his  killed  and 
wounded. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

Major-General  Commanding,  U.  S.  A. 
COLONEL  R.  M.  SAWYER, 

A.  A.  General, 

Military  Division   Mississippi. 

And  here  is  what  Hood  said  about  it: 
***#**•*##  #       # 

General  Hood  claimed  that  he  had  strong  assurances  from 
Isham  G.  Harris  that  his  army  would  be  reinforced  by,  at  least, 
15,000  men  in  Tennessee,  and  that  he  would  be  reinforced  by 
15,000  men  from  General  Steele,  from  Mississippi,  but  that  of 
his  own  force  there  were  but  21,000  and  2,000  cavalry,  the  latter 
being  away  at  Murfreesboro,  confronting  Rousseau. 

Hood  continues:  "Finding  that  the  main  movement  of  the 
Federals  was  directed  against  our  left,  the  ctiief  engineer  was 
instructed  to  carefully  select  a  line  in  prolongation  of  the  left 
flank.  Cheatham's  corps  was  withdrawn  from  the  right  during 
the  night  of  the  J5th  and  posted  on  the  left  of  Stewart,  Cheat- 
ham's  left  flank  resting  near  the  Brentwood  hills.  In  this  posi 
tion,  the  men  were  ordered  to  construct  breastworks  during  the 
same  night. 

"The  morning  of  the  16th  found  us  with  Lee's  right  on  Over- 
ton  hill.  At  an  early  hour  the  enemy  made  a  general  attack 
along  our  front,  and  were  again  and  again  repulsed  at  all  points, 
with  heavy  loss,*  especially  in  Lee's  front.  About  3:30  r.  M. 

*This  is  exaggerated. 


IN    THE    WEST.  233 

the  Federals  concentrated  a  number  of  guns  against  a  portion  of 
our  line,  which  passed  over  a  mound  on  the  left  of  our  center, 
and  which  had  been  occupied  during  the  night.  This  point  was 
favorable  for  massing  troops  for  an  assault  under  cover  of  artil- 
lery.  Accordingly,  the  enemy  availed  himself  of  the  advantage 
presented,  massed  a  body  of  men — apparently  one  division — at 
the  base  of  the  mound  and,  under  the  fire  of  artillery,  which 
prevented  our  men  from  raising  their  heads  above  the  breast 
works,  made  a  sudden  and  gallant  charge  up  to  and  over  our 
intrenchments.  Our  line,  thus  pierced,  gave  way;  soon  there 
after  it  broke  at  all  points,  and  I  beheld  for  the  first  and  only 
time  a  Confederate  army  abandon  the  field  in  confusion. 

"I  was  seated  upon  my  horse  not  far  in  rear  when 
the  breach  was  effected,  and  soon  discovered  that  all  hope  to 
rally  the  troops  was  in  vain.  When  our  troops  were  in  greatest 
confusion,  a  young  lady  of  Tennessee,  Miss  Mary  Bradford, 
rushed  in  their  midst,  regardless  of  the  storm  of  bullets,  and  in 
the  name  of  God  and  our  country  implored  them  to  re-form  and 
face  the  enemy.  Her  name  deserves  to  be  enrolled  among  the 
heroes  of  the  war." 

With  all  his  mistaken  zeal,  it  must  be  admitted  that  Hood 
deserved  well  at  the  hands  of  his  Confederate  friends.  For 
while  his  expedition  was  a  hazardous  one,  and  could  not  have 
succeeded,  even  had  he  demoralized  Schofield's  infantry  (the 
cavalry  were  able  to  take  care  of  themselves),  in  crossing  the 
Tennessee  with  an  army  less  than  50,000  men  and  an  attempt  to 
hold  any  portion  of  Tennessee,  or  Kentucky,  was  certainly  a 
mark  of  great  courage,  worthy  of  success  in  a  good  cause  (as 
he  undoubtedly  believed  it)  or  a  better  cause  (as  we  believe  it). 


234 


HUNDRED    BATTLES 


It  is,  then,  no  wonder  that,  as  he  gathered  his  shattered 
ranks,  constantly  lessened  by  capture  and  desertion  (or  scatter 
ing),  and  moved  quietly  along  that  terrible  "retreat,"  he  felt 
that  his  work  was  over,  and  as  he  re-crossed  the  Tennessee,  and 
retired  to  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  he  turned  over  his  command  to 
General  Beauregard,  and  telegraphed  to  his  superior,  the  secre 
tary  of  war:  "I request  to  be  relieved  from  the  command  of 
this  army." 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

HOOD'S    RETREAT GENERAL    FORREST    NARROWLY     ESCAPES     CAP 
TURE A    BATTALION    CHARGES    A    DIVISION. 

After  taking  the  left  flank  of  our  advancing  army,  and 
attempting  to  cut  off  as  many  as  possible  of  the  retreating  Con 
federates,  the  Second  swam  the  Harpeth  to  the  east  of  Franklin 
and  struck  the  enemy  again  at  Spring  Hill.  This  was  on  the 
20th  of  December,  1864,  and  as  soon  as  the  division  had  closed 
up  and  our  supply  trains  were  provided  for,  we  again  took  the 
first  crossing,  Duck  river,  December  23d.  The  rear  guard  of 
Hood's  army  was  pressed  all  day,  though  not  as  vigorously  as 
General  Wilson  thought  they  ought  to  be. 

It  was  known  that  General  Forrest  commanded  the  rear 
guard  with  all  his  force,  the  remnants  of  what  had  been  the 
flower  of  the  Confederate  cavalry.  But  their  ranks  had  been 
greatly  reduced  by  "straggling"  and  breaking  into  small  bands, 
many  of  them  seeking  their  homes,  worn  out  and  disgusted. 
Still  there  were  enough  brave  spirits  left  to  keep  up  a  show  of 


236  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

resistance,  unless  furiously  pressed,  as  indeed  they  were  liable  to 
be  by  an  army  flushed  with  victory  and  tired  of  so  long  and 
apparently  so  useless  a  struggle. 

As  they  neared  Linnville  General  Wilson  and  staff  rode  up 
to  the  advance,  where  Captain  Whittemore,  of  the  Second,  had 
three  companies  (the  first  battalion),  and  said,  "The  rebels  are 
going  too  slow;  can't  you  push  them  faster  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  I  think  I  could  start  them  on  a  run  if  I  was  sure 
of  support  when  compelled  to  fall  back  by  Forrest's  main 
force." 

"I  will  send  the  fourth  regulars  to  support  you." 
Away  they  went  on  a  gallop,  scattering  the  lighter  part  of 
the  rear  guard,  capturing  many  and  sending  them  to  the  rear; 
others  took  to  the  fields  and  woods,  and  everything  looked  favor 
able  for  a  general  stampede  of  the  Confederates,  when,  as  they 
entered  Linnville  Captain  Whittemore  saw  a  number  of  soldiers, 
mounted;  some  of  them  sat  resting,  one  leg  thrown  over  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle.  Dashing  into  their  midst,  several  of 
them  were  captured  and  others  escaped  in  confusion. 

General  Forrest  was  there,  surrounded  by  his  staff  and 
escort.  One  of  his  orderlies,  standing  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
General,  was  caught  by  the  shoulder  by  Captain  Whittemore  and 
sent  to  the  rear.  This  escort  laughingly  told  the  Captain  after 
ward  that  he  had  made  a  poor  selection,  as  General  Forrest  stood 
next  to  him,  and  he  might  as  well  have  been  captured  as  an 
orderly. 

Passing  on  through  town  it  was  discovered  that  the  fourth 
regulars  were  not  following.  The  enemy  made  the  same  dis- 


IX    THE    WEST.  237 

covery,  and  wheeling  about  in  strong  force  checked  what  might 
have  been  a  grand  rout,  if  this  little  battalion  had  been  backed 
by  1,000  men. 

Returning,  it  was  found  our  flanks  had  been  threatened  by 
artillery,  with  cavalry  in  support,  and  the  fourth  had  been  sent 
against  them.  And,  as  the  rest  of  the  brigade  knew  nothing  of 
the  charge  they  were  not  in  supporting  distance.  General  Croxton 
was  greatly  displeased  in  not  being  apprised  of  this  movement 
sooner,  for  he  looked  upon  that  as  the  grandest  opportunity  he 
had  known  during  the  campaign  for  annihilating  the  best  cavalry 
force  the  Confederacy  had  in  the  southwest — an  opportunity 
of  destroying  or  capturing  in  detail  that  was  not  often  given 
by  Forrest.  In  this  charge  two  men  were  killed  and  six  wound 
ed.  And  this  ended  .the  third  Christmas  eve  made  memorable 
by  a  struggle,  loss  of  life,  and  a  shade  of  gloom  settling  down 
upon  some  portion  of  the  regiment. 

During  the  next  six  days  ending  the  year  1864  the  regiment 
closed  the  career  of  the  Confederate  army  north  of  the  Ten 
nessee  river,  in  mud,  snow,  rain  and  cold,  and  the  regiment 
halted  to  "close  up"  at  Waterloo,  Alabama,  having  marched 
through  Pulaski,  Taylor  Springs,  Little  Cypress  camp  and 
Richland  Creek. 

The  affair  at  Richland  Creek  was  for  a  time  quite  severe. 
The  indefatigable  Forrest  made  a  desperate  effort  to  give  the 
worn  out  troops  of  Hood's  command  a  little  rest,  and  chose  his 
ground  well,  making  a  show  of  resistance  with  artillery  (which 
usually  meant  infantry  support  and  a  reserve  force  near),  and  as 
the  Federal  troops  were  also  much  jaded,  it  was  some  time 
before  enough  support  \vas  at  hand  to  warrant  a  dash,  with  the 
possible  resistance  they  might  find. 


238  HUNDRED  BATTLES 

The  day  was  far  spent  before  Croxton's  brigade  succeeded 
in  dislodging  them,  and  went  into  camp  on  their  grounds.  In 
the  morning  a  charge  was  ordered;  the  rear  guard  gave  way; 
following  them  closely  the  cavalry  was  scattered  and  Croxton's 
men  rushed  on  and  followed  the  enemy  to  the  creek,  three  miles, 
and  there,  upon  the  other  side,  the  main  force  of  the  Confed 
erate  army  was  developed.  For  a  time  a  general  engagement 
seemed  unavoidable  and  imminent,  each  side  holding  its  own 
and  the  artillery  opening  up  vigorously  on  both  sides. 

Troops  were  brought  into  position;  shot  and  shell  came 
and  went  crashing  through  the  tree  tops  or  bounding  along  the 
road,  limbs  of  trees  fell  in  all  directions  and  that  ominous  silence 
of  small  arms  spread  its  pall  over  the  scene,  and  the  gloom  of 
night  compelled  "peace"  between  the  combatants. 

The  Federals  obeyed  and  went  into  camp,  and  the  Confed 
erates,  retiring  for  a  space,  also  sought  the  poor  comfort  from 
their  camp  fires. 

A  memorable  year,  in  which  vast  armies  had  melted  away, 
like  the  avalanche  which  sweeps  all  before  it,  until,  in  turn,  it 
meets  an  unseen  power  and  yields.  On  the  one  side  the  ava 
lanche  was  already  re-forming.  How  would  it  be  on  the  other? 
Only  a  modest  river  between.  The  Federals  could  afford  to 
rest.  Could  the  Confederates  ? 

Seventeen  days  of  rest  and  the  brigade  was  again  in  the 
saddle  and  across  the  river  without  opposition.  Swinging 
around  through  Eastport,  luka  and  Burnsville,  capturing  a  few 
stragglers  here  and  there,  they  entered,  for  the  third  time,  the 
historic  grounds  of  Corinth,  and  on  to  Farmington,  Mississippi, 
.and  back  to  luka,  the  Saratoga  of  the  south,  where  they  rested 


IN    THE    WEST.  239 

for  a  day  and  again  returned  through  Eastport  to  their  old 
camp  at  Waterloo,  remaining  in  comparative  quiet  a  whole 
month;  remounting  the  command  with  some  of  the  best  stock 
of  Kentucky's  far  famed  stables. 

Soon  the  command  recrossed  the  river  and  went  into  camp 
at  Chickasaw  bluffs,  and  from  this  point  frequent  short  scouts 
were  made  into  the  surrounding  country.  Among  them  one, 
referred  to  in  Part  Second,  made  by  the  new  commander  of  the 
regiment,  Colonel  Tom  Johnston,  will  be  found  of  interest. 
.During  the  next  ten  days,  the  command  marched  south  into 
Alabama,  and  their  progress  was  very  much  delayed  by  their 
effort  to  keep  with  them  their  wagon  trains;  through  mud, 
quicksand,  slush  and  over  bad  hills.  On  this  march  efforts  were 
made  to  prevent  plundering,  and  officers  were  frequently  ordered 
under  arrest  by  the  commanding  general  for  violation  of  these 
orders. 

Passing  through  Cherokee,  Frankfort,  Russellville,  Jasper, 
crossing  the  Mulberry  river,  Black  Warrior,  and  through  Ely- 
ton,  coming  out  on  the  Tuscaloosa  road,  on  March  31,  the  com 
mand  find  a  much  richer  country,  with  an  abundance  of  forage 
for  animals. 

The  brigade  had  cut  loose  from  the  division  and  was  on  a 
grand  raid,  General  Wilson,*  being  farther  east,  also  raiding. 

General  John  T.  Croxton,  in  his  report  on  the  raid  through 
northern  Alabama,  says: 

"At  this  time,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  Forrest's  entire  train 
with  his  field  artillery  was  at  Tuscaloosa,  and  in  apprehension  of 
my  approach  was  ordered  to  Northport.  In  view  of  this,  Jack- 

*For  an  account  of   General  Wilson's  life  and  services,  in  brief,  see  Part 
Second, 


240  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

son,  instead  of  following  directly,  took  a  road  striking  the  Mud 
creek  road,  four  miles  nearer  Tuscaloosa,  and,  moving  rapidly, 
succeeded  in  throwing  his  forces  there  between  me  and  that  place, 
upon  the  only  road  east  of  the  Black  Warrior.  He  had  two 
brigades,  numbering,  as  I  then  supposed  and  have  since  learned, 
twenty-six  hundred  men.  I  could  hardly  hope  to  run  over  this 
force  and  take  Tuscaloosa  with  1,500  men  (400  of  which  had 
not  yet  joined  me),  supported  as  he  was  by  400  militia  and  350 
cadets,  who  filled  the  trenches  around  the  city.  I  determined, 
therefore,  to  effect  by  strategy  what  I  could  not  hope  to  accom 
plish  directly.  I  therefore  turned  north,  marching  ten  miles  on 
the  Elyton  road,  halted  and  fed,  while  the  fourth  Kentucky 
joined  me.  From  this  point  we  moved  directly  west  to  John 
son's  ferry,  forty  miles  above  Tuscaloosa,  which  point  we 
reached  at  sundown,  having  marched  during  the  day  over  forty 
miles.  I  ordered  the  eighth  Iowa  to  begin  crossing  at  once,  and 
at  sundown,  April  2d,  the  whole  command  was  west  of  the 
Black  Warrior,  the  men,  with  their  equipments,  crossing  in  a 
single  flatboat  and  the  horses  swimming,  losing  only  two  or 
three.  April  3d,  moved  at  daylight  toward  Tuscaloosa,  the 
advance  guard  capturing  all  the  scouts  and  citizens,  thus  pre 
venting  any  knowledge  of  our  approach.  At  nine  o'clock  at 
night  we  reached  the  suburbs  of  Northport,  massed  the  brigade 
in  Cedar  Grove,  and  with  150  men  of  the  second  Michigan 
cavalry  moved  up  near  the  bridge.  I  intended  to  put  this 
picket  force  in  ambush  as  near  the  bridge  as  I  could  get,  quietly 
await  daybreak,  then  seize  the  bridge  by  a  dash,  and  throw  the 
whole  brigade  over,  mounted,  and  envelop  the  city  before  the 
cadets  and  militia  could  be  assembled. 


IN    THE    WEST.  241 

"As  I  approached  the  bridge,  however,  I  could  distinctly 
hear  the  rebels  removing  the  flooring,  and  apprehending  they 
had  received  notice  of  our  approach,  and  knowing  the  difficulty 
of  success  should  they  have  time  to  assemble  their  troops,  I 
gave  the  order,  and  Colonel  Johnston,  of  the  second  Michigan, 
dashed  ahead  on  the  guards,  who  fired  and  retreated  into  the 
bridge,  in  the  center  of  which  the  reserve  was  stationed  behind 
cotton  bales  and  in  front  of  which  twenty  feet  of  bridge  had 
been  torn  up.  The  detachment  of  the  Second,  led  by  Colonel 
Johnston  in  person,  rushed  into  the  bridge,  halting  for  nothing 
until  they  had  killed  and  captured  the  entire  guard  and  had 
possession.  These  were  moved  ahead  to  cover  the  approaches  to 
the  bridge,  and  fifty  men  sent  double-quick  to  seize  the  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  the  location  of  which  I  had  learned,  and 
which  were  soon  in  our  possession.  In  the  meantime  the  floor 
of  the  bridge  was  relaid  so  that  footmen  could  pass,  and  the 
balance  of  the  second  Michigan,  the  sixth  Kentucky  and  eighth 
Iowa  thrown  across,  dismounted,  and  put  in  position  to  cover 
the  bridge  against  an  attack  from  the  militia  and  cadets  which 
were  assembling.  They  made  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to 
dislodge  us,  but  failed,  and  morning  found  us  in  peaceful  posses 
sion  of  the  premises  with  600  prisoners  and  three  pieces  of 
artillery." 

After  the  brigade  had  destroyed  the  foundry,  factory,  two 
nitre  works,  the  military  university  and  immense  quantities  of 
stores,  to  cripple  the  southern  army  as  much  as  possible  and 
give  that  portion  of  the  south  a  taste  of  war,  with  all  its  devas 
tating  horrors,  General  Croxton  began  to  look  out  for  a  way  to 
rejoin  the  cavalry  corps  under  General  Wilson.  Going  south- 


242  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

east,  he  learned  that  Forrest  with  3,000  mounted  men  was  in  his 
front,  It  was  useless  to  attempt  a  fight  against  such  odds,  and 
even  could  he  have  driven  Forrest,  it  was  not  desirable,  but 
rather  his  policy  to  draw  Forrest  away  from  Wilson,  which  he 
did  by  returning  to  Northport.  "On  the  way,"  Croxton  contin 
ues,  "the  rearguard  was  attacked  by  Wirt  Adams  with  2,800  men. 
The  sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  in  the  rear,  was  driven  in,  past  the 
second  Michigan,  which  was  immediately  thrown  across  the  road 
and  repulsed  the  enemy  three  times  as  they  charged  against  my 
little  band  of  Michigan  men.  We  were  not  molested  further, 
but  gathering  up  our  wounded,  thirty-two  and  one  killed,  they 
were  brought  away  in  ambulances,  though  two  of  our  ambu 
lances  were  broken  down  and  abandoned."  Without  giving  all 
of  General  Croxton's  report,  which  follows  the  movements  of  the 
brigade  across  the  Black  Warrior  into  Elyton  valley,  to  Jasper, 
Arkadephia,  Trussville  and  Talladega,  we  note: 

"On  the  23d  of  April  (fifteen  days  after  Lee  had  surren 
dered,  though  the  brigade  had  not  yet  heard  of  it,)  we  attacked 
General  Hill  between  Talladega  and  Blue  mountain  at  Mum- 
ford's  station  and  routed  him,  capturing  the  works,  the  artillery 
and  a  number  of  prisoners  and  scattered  the  rest  in  the  woods." 

On  the  first  of  May  the  brigade  joined  the  corps  at  Macon, 
after  an  absence  of  one  month,  during  which  time  Croxton  had 
no  communication  with  any  Federal  forces.  Had  marched  653 
miles  through  a  mountainous  country,  swimming  numerous 
rivers,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  losing  few,  aside  from 
stragglers  out  of  their  line  of  duty,  and  destroying  large 
quantities  of  stores  and  munitions  of  war. 

Among   others   of    the  brigade,    General  Croxton,    in   his 


IN  THE  WEST.  243 

reports,  recommends  for  promotion  for  meritorious  services, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas  W.  Johnston  to  be  colonel  of  the 
second  Michigan  cavalry,  also  Captain  Walter  H.  Whittemore 
to  be  major  by  brevet.  The  General  did  not  mention  severe 
skirmishing  which  lasted  all  day  April  1st,  in  which  forty -five 
men  of  the  sixth  Kentucky  and  a  few  of  other  regiments 
were  lost,  and  neglects  to  mention  the  stirring  events  of  forcing 
the  horses  into  the  Black  Warrior  and  driving  them  across,  while 
the  men  crossed  in  a  few  miserable  dug-outs.  It  was  not  only  a 
very  hazardous  undertaking  but  very  laborious  and  exciting,  and 
occupied  a  whole  day. 

The  affair  with  Hill  was  started  by  a  brilliant  dash  of  two 
companies,  led  by  Lieutenant  Woodruff,  of  company  M,  second 
Michigan  cavalry.  Two  pieces  of  artillery  opened  on  our  com 
mand.  Colonel  Johnston  ordered  the  advance  to  charge  and 
followed  them  rapidly  with  the  regiment.  The  advance  had 
possession  of  the  artillery  within  five  minutes  and  the  brigade 
did  not  overtake  the  Second  until  night. 

On  April  26th  and  27th  Lee's  army  came  marching  home 
in  squads,  with  flags  of  truce  flying,  and  our  troops  began  to 
settle  down  to  the  fact  that  the  war  had  ended.  And  now — what? 
Was  this  to  be  the  end  ? 

The  troops  of  General  Hill  scattered  like  men  who  had 
become  demoralized,  or  had  risked  their  lives  as  often  as  they 
cared  to  in  a  bad  cause.  Yet  in  their  breaking  up  and  scattering 
they  carried  with  them  several  of  our  men,  who,  by  their  head 
long  course  had  become  detached  from  the  regiment,  and  there 
was  an  apparent  disposition  to  spare  lives.  Our  men  were 
immediately  parolled. 


244  HUNDRED    BATTLES 

Here  properly  ends  the  record  of  this  remarkable  regiment, 
though  their  marches  and  camp  duties  continued  on  through 
Georgia,  across  the  Tallapoosa  river,  the  Chattahoochee  and  on, 
back  and  forth,  settling  finally  at  Macon,  but  sending  detach 
ments  to  Thomaston,  Barnesville,  Forsyth  and  Milledgeville,  and 
maintaining  military  posts  at  those  points  until  finally  mustered 
out  in  August,  1865,  having  kept  up  its  organization  for  about 
four  years,  and  in  that  time  borne  upon  its  rolls  2,400  men, 
including  recruits,  and  mustered  out  less  than  one  fifth  of  them 
at  the  final  muster. 


END    OF    PART    FIRST. 


ADJUTANT  EDWIN  HOYT. 
A.  A.  A.  G.  1st  Brigade,  IstDiv.  Cav. 


ADJUTANT  H.  C.  AKELEY. 


SURGEON  WM.  BROWNEL. 


QUARTERMASTER^.  BROWNELL, 
Lieut.  Col.  and  Coin.  Sub.  Army  of  W.  Va. 


COM1SSARY  E.  W.  LAWRENCE 


PART  SECOND. 


PART  SECOND. 


LETTERS  FROM  PROMINENT  GENERALS. 

A  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  POPE. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  MISSOURI, 
Fort  Leaven  worth,  Kansas,  October  12,  1882. 
MY  DEAR  CAPTAIN: — I  am  very  glad  indeed  to  hear  that  you 
are  writing  a  history  of  your  regiment.     Certainly  there  was  no 
better  regiment  in  the  service,  so  far  as  I  knew,  and  I  remember 
very  well  its  gallant  and  soldierly  appearance  at  all  times. 

The  raid  in  which  it  was  engaged  south  of  Corinth,  in  1862, 
was,  I  think,  the  very  first  military  operation  of  that  character 
ever  made  by  our  troops,  and  deserves  a  much  fuller  recital 
than  ever  has  been  made.  I  am  sure  there  is  no  one  who  feels 
more  interest  in  the  history  of  your  regiment  or  who  looks  back, 
to  it  with  more  affection  than  I  do. 

Sincerely  yours, 

JNO.  POPE. 
CAPTAIN  M.  P.  THATCHER,  Detroit. 


248  GENERAL  W.  L.  ELLIOTT'S  LETTER. 

The  following  is  from  General  Elliott,  colonel  of  the  second 
Iowa: 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  June  17,    1883. 

MY  DEAR  CAPTAIN: — I  was  glad  to  receive  your  favor  of  the 
9th.  I  regret  that  I  have  not  a  copy  of  my  report  of  the  Mossy 
Creek  fight  to  send  you.  *  *  *  *  * 

The  National  Tribune  published  an  account  of  that  fight, 
but  the  troops  I  had  the  honor  to  command  and  my  own  services 
were  entirely  ignored.  ***** 

If  I  remember  correctly,  the  battery  attached  to  the  first 
division  of  cavalry  was  Lilley's,  the  eighteenth  Indiana.  One  gun 
was  abandoned  as  disabled  (a  broken  axle  at  the  Dandridge  fight, 
under  Colonel  Campbell).  That  left  us  but  three  pieces  for  the 
Mossy  Creek  fight.  ****** 

You  ought  to  be  able  to  make  up  a  fine  record  for  the  second 
Michigan  cavalry.  My  first  acquaintance  with  the  regiment 
was  at  St  Louis,  and  soon  after  I  joined  it  with  my  regiment  in 
Grant's  army  of  the  Tennessee,  near  Corinth.  Then  Sheridan 
joined  your  regiment  and  his  first  service  was  with  me  on  the 
celebrated  Booneville  raid — the  first  of  the  war;  in  which  I  had 
the  honor  of  being  the  senior  colonel  in  command. 

I  do  not  think  history  has  given  the  importance  to  this  raid 
which  it  is  entitled  to.  We  really  supplied  Halleck's  army  with 
railroad  rolling  stock,  besides  what  we  destroyed  and  the  prison 
ers  we  parolled — more  than  twice  our  own  numbers,  and  that, 
too,  in  the  teeth  of  General  Beauregard,  with  his  whole  army. 
As  a  general  thing  I  don't  think  the  result  obtained 
compensates  for  the  demoralization  of  the  troops  on  a  cavalry 
raid.  ******* 


WHAT    GENERAL    STANLEY  SAYS.  249 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  Colonel  Campbell  lived  so  short  a 
time  to  enjoy  the  reward  in  this  world  for  his  valuable  services 
during  the  rebellion. 

I  don't  think  the  whole  army  could  boast  of  a  finer 
"brigade  of  two  regiments  than  the  second  Iowa  and  second 

Michigan  cavalry. 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  L.  ELLIOTT, 
Brevet  Major- General,  U.  S.  A. 


FOET  LEWIS,  COLORADO,  May  31,  1883. 

DEAR  CAPTAIN: — Your  letter  came  after  some  delay.  I 
have  read  your  sketch  of  the  battle  of  Franklin,  and  it  is,  accord 
ing  to  my  recollection,  so  correct  I  could  not  make  any  alteration. 

Yes,  it  is  true  that  I  was  in  front  of  the  left  of  Opdyke's 
brigade  when  they  made  that  charge  and  it  was  there  I  got  my 
dose  of  lead. 

Yes,  Wagner  was,  to  say  the  least,  "full"  of  whisky,  if  not 
drunk,  and  told  Corsair's  aid  to  "tell  Corsair  to  fight  the  rebs 
till  h — 1  freezes  over."  That  was  directly  contrary  to  my 
instructions.  But  he  was  in  a  vainglorious  condition,  though 
it  was  not  known  at  the  time  to  General  Schofield  or  myself. 

I  am  sorry  I  can  not  give  you  additional  light  on  Chica- 
mauga.  Ten  days  before  that  battle  I  was  attacked  by  acute 
dysentery  and  was  lying  prostrate  at  Stevenson  during  the 
great  battle.  Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  express  an  opinion  under 


250  GENEKAL  HATCH'S  LETTER. 

the  circumstances,  but  I  think  you  are  right  in  your  suggestion 
that  the  cavalry  was  not  handled  as  a  whole  as  skillfully  as  it 
should  have  been.  A  few  brigade  commanders,  as  near  as  I  can 
learn,  acted  independently  and  conducted  the  cavalry  in  a  great 
battle  that  might,  it  seems  to  me,  have  been  changed  to  the 
discomfiture  of  the  Confederates.  I  have  always  regretted  the 
sickness  which  kept  me  from  Chicamauga. 

Yours  truly, 

D.  S.  STANLEY. 
To  CAPTAIN  M.  P.  THATCHER,  Detroit. 

P.  S.  You  appear  to  have  had  so  good  success  in  getting 
correct  information,  that  I  don't  think  I  can  add  anything  to 
the  sketch  you  sent  me.  D.  S.  S. 


FROM     GENERAL    EDWARD    HATCH. 

FORT   RILEY,    KANSAS,  January  4,  1884. 

CAPTAIN: — I  regret  that  your  letter  was  so  long  in  reaching 
me.  *  *  * 

The  cavalry  did  not  receive  that  credit  which  was  their 
due  for  the  part  they  took  in  the  Hood  invasion.  With  4,200 
cavalry  we  were  constantly  fighting  with  Hood's  advance  from 
Florence  to  Nashville;  and  that,  too,  against  a  force  of  cavalry 
under  Forrest  that  equaled  all  of  Schofield's  army.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  stubborn  fight  of  our  cavalry  at  Columbia  and 
Franklin,  on  Schofield's  flanks,  that  officer  would  have  been  lucky 
had  he  reached  Nashville  with  his  staff  only,  and  the  battle  of 
Nashville  would  have  been  fought  at  Louisville  or  somewhere 
in  Kentucky. 


GENERAL  HATCH'S  LETTER.  251 

From  Franklin  to  Nashville,  Croxton's  and  ray  commands 
had  the  rear,  and  in  the  forward  movement  from  Nashville  it  is 
well  known  that  we  crushed  the  enemy's  left,  over  a  line  of 
breastworks,  consisting  of  four,  six  and  four  guns,  respectively. 
General  Wilson  credited  our  division  with  capturing  seventeen 
guns,  and  as  many  prisoners  as  we  had  men. 

You  can  not  say  too  much  of  the  fighting  qualities  of  the 
second  Michigan  cavalry.  I  was  with  your  regiment  in  action 
at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  certainly  one  of  the  hardest  fought 
cavalry  affairs  of  the  war.  The  two  regiments  went  into  action 
with  about  1,000  men  all  told.  The  Confederates  acknowledged 
a  force  of  5,000.  The  fight  lasted  all  day. 

That  the  second  Michigan  had  for  its  colonel  General 
Sheridan,  the  commanding  general  of  the  United  States  Army, 
and  to-day  the  most  remarkable  cavalry  officer  in  the  world,  is 
sufficient  glory  for  you  all.  I  know  of  no  regiment  that  ever 
equaled  the  fighting  qualities  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry. 

Probably  I  witnessed  two  of  its  most  trying  moments, 
Booneville  and  Shoal  Creek.  I  have  not  forgotten  at  Booneville^ 
when  Campbell,  fighting  with  desperation  against  fearful  odds, 
passed  the  word  along  to  his  men,  "Hold  on  a  moment  longer,  the 
second  Iowa  are  coming."  Neither,  when  at  Shoal  Creek,  the 
second  Iowa,  nearly  two  years  after,  was  again  received  with  the 
same  old  cheer. 

The  regiments  seemed  to  have  perfect  faith   in   each  other. 

I  am  glad  you  are  writing  your  regiment's  history.  Mich 
igan  should  know  that  every  man  of  the  second  cavalry  was  a 

hero. 

Very  truly  yours, 

EDWARD  HATCH, 
Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  A, 


ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 

'THE  STATES  REPRESENTED — WHO  WERE  OUR  COMMANDERS. 

The  following  were  the  troops  that  served  in  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  compiled  from  the  official  rosters  and  arranged 
with  reference  to  the  states  to  which  they  belonged,  as  shown 
by  the  report  of  April  10th,  1864: 

Connecticut,  Infantry,  5th  and  20th  regiments. 
Illinois,  Infantry,  10th,  16th,  19th,  21st,  22d,  24th,  25th, 
27th,  34th,  35th,  36th,  38th,  42d,  44th,  51st,  59th,  60th,  73d, 
74th,  75th,  78th,  79th,  80th,  82d,  83d,  84th,  85th,  86th,  88th, 
89th,  92d,  96th,  98th,  100th,  101st,  102d,  104th,  105th,  110th, 
115th,  123d,  125th  and  129th  regiments;  Cavalry,  Co.  K,  15th 
regiment;  Artillery,  Batteries  C  and  M,  1st  artillery,  C,  H  and 
I,  2d  artillery,  Bridge's  battery  and  Chicago  Board  of  Trade 
Battery. 

Indiana,  Infantry,  6th,  9th,  10th,  15th,  17th,  22d,  27th,  29th, 
30th,  31st,  32d,  33d,  35th,  36th,  37th,  38th,  40th,  42d,  44th, 
51st,  57th,  58th,  68th,  70th,  72d,  73d,  74th,  75th,  79th,  81st, 
S2d,  84th,  85th,  86th,  87th,  88th  and  101st  regiments;  Cavalry, 


AEMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND.  253 

2d,  Cos.  G,  H,  I,  K,  3d,  4th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  llth,  12th  and  13th 
regiments;  Artillery,  4th,  5th,  7th,  8th,  10th,  llth,  12th,  13th,. 
18th,  19th,  20th  and  21st  batteries. 

Iowa,  Cavalry,  5th  and  8th  regiments. 

Kansas,  Infantry,  8th  regiment;  Artillery,  1st  battery. 

Kentucky,  Infantry,  1st,  2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  8th,  9th,  10th,. 
15th,  17th,  18th,  21st,  23d  and  28th  regiments;  Cavalry,  1st,. 
2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th  and  7th  regiments;  Artillery,  1st  and  2d 
batteries. 

Maryland,  Infantry,  3d  regiment. 

Massachusetts,  Infantry,  2d  and  33d  regiments. 

Michigan,  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  1st  regiment;  Infan 
try,  9th,  10th,  llth,  13th,  14th,  18th,  19th,  21st  and  22d  regi 
ments;  Cavalry,  2d  and  4th  regiments;  Artillery,  Batteries  A. 
D,  E,  I  and  K,  1st  regiment. 

Minnesota,   Infantry,  2d  regiment;  Artillery,    2d    battery. 

Missouri,  Infantry,  2d,  15th  and  23d  regiments;  Engineers. 
1st  regiment;  Artillery,  Battery  G,  1st  regiment. 

New  Jersey,  Infantry,  13th  and  33d  regiments;  Artillery, 
Battery  I,  1st  regiment,  and  13th  battery. 

New  York,  Infantry,  45th,  58th,  60th,  68th,  78th,  102d, 
107th,  119th,  123d,  134th,  136th,  137th,  141st,  143d,  149th, 
150th  and  154th  regiments;  Artillery,  Batteries  I  and  M,  1st 
regiment,  and  13th  battery. 

Ohio,  Infantry,  1st,  2d,  3d,  5th,  6th,  7th,  9th,  10th,  llth, 
13th,  14th,  15th,  17th,  18th,  19th,  21st,  24th,  26th,  29th,  31st, 
33d,  35th,  36th,  38th,  40th,  41st,  49th,  51sf,  52d,  55th,  59th, 
61st,  64th,  65th,  66th,  69th,  71st,  73d,  74th,  79th,  82d,  89th, 
90th,  92d,  93d,  94th,  97th,  98th,  99th,  101st,  102d,  105th,  106th,. 


254  THE    COMMANDERS. 

108th,  113th,  115th,  121st,  124th  and  125th  regiments;  Cavalry, 
1st,  3d,  4th  and  10th  regiments;  Artillery,  Batteries  A,  B,  C, 
E,  F,  G,  I,  K  and  M,  1st  regiment,  and  6th,  9th,  12th,  18th  and 
20th  batteries. 

Pennsylvania,  Infantry,  27th,  28th,  29th,  46th,  73d,  75th, 
77th,  78th,  79th,  109th,  lllth  and  147th  regiments;  Cavalry, 
7th,  9th  and  15th  regiments:  Artillery,  Batteries  B  and  E  (inde 
pendent). 

Tennessee,  Infantry,  1st,  2d,  and  10th  regiments;  Cavalry, 
1st,  2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  12th  and  13th  regiments; 
Artillery,  Batteries  A,  C,  D  and  F,  1st  regiment. 

Wisconsin,  Infantry,  1st,  3d,  10th,  13th,  15th,  21st,  22d, 
24th,  26th  and  31st  regiments;  Cavalry,  1st  regiment;  Artil 
lery,  3d,  5th,  8th  and  10th  batteries,  and  Battery  C,  1st  heavy 
artillery. 

To  these  organizations  were  added  four  regiments  of  infan 
try,  one  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  seven  batteries  of  artillery,  of 
the  regular  United  States  troops,  making  the  grand  total, 
present  and  absent,  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  at  the 
opening  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  one  hundred  and  seventy-one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty,  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

WHO    WERE    OUR    COMMANDERS. 

Major-General  D.  S.  Stanley — commanding  cavalry  corps, 
Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

General  J.  B.  Turchin.  first  division. 

General  S.  C.  Smith,  second  division. 

Colonel  R.  II.  G.  Minty,  first  brigade,  first  division. 

Colonel  Paramore,  second  brigade,  first  division. 

Colonel  E.  M.  McCook,  first  brigade,  second  division. 


THE    COMMANDERS.  255 

Colonel  A.  P.  Campbell,  second  brigade,  second  division. 

These  were  our  cavalry  commanders  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1863.  Soon  after  there  was  a  change  in  the  numbering  of  the 
brigades  and  divisions,  and  our  own  brigade  was  known  as  the 
first  brigade,  first  division,  and  this  position  was  maintained 
until  the  end  of  the  war. 

At  Stevenson,  Alabama,  General  Stanley  was  taken  sick, 
and  the  cavalry  corps  suffered  by  his  absence  at  the  battle  of 
Chicamauga. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-4  Generals  Elliott  and  Sturgis 
alternated  in  the  command  of  the  cavalry.  Generals  Mitchell, 
Crook  and  McCook  successively  commanded  the  first  division, 
and  later  General  Hatch. 

General  Wilson  was  in  command  of  the  cavalry  corps  from 
October,  1864,  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Brigadier-General  Croxton  commanded  our  brigade  during 
the  Hood  invasion  and  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,  under  General  Rosecrans,  the  cavalry  was  poorly  organ 
ized;  the  regiments  serving  independently  or  attached  to  some 
division  of  infantry.  This  was  why  we  lost  General  Sheridan, 
by  promotion — he  was  promoted  out  of  the  regiment,  and  there 
were  no  brigades  of  cavalry  to  command.  Had  General  P.  H. 
Sheridan  been  in  command  of  all  our  cavalry  at  Chicamauga,  and 
used  them  as  at  the  East,  there  would  have  been  a  thorn  in  the 
side  of  Braxton  Bragg  that  would  have  worried  him. 

Had  Thomas  had  at  Nashville  Rosecrans's  cavalry  from 
Chicamauga,  with  plenty  of  commanders  like  Hatch  and  Crox 
ton  for  the  brigades  and  divisions,  Hood  would  never  have 
recrossed  the  Harpeth. 

The  real  strength  of  cavalry  was  always  underestimated. 


STONE  RIVER, 

"WE  SHALL  WIN  THIS    FIGHT  !" GENERAL     ROSECRANS     AND     THIS 

MEMORABLE  BATTLE. 

Of  all  the  heroes  brought  out  by  the  events  of  the  great 
rebellion,  none  has  suffered  so  much  from  the  vacillating- 
minds  of  a  great  people  as  William  S.  Rosecrans. 

Although  the  writer  of  this  volume  does  not  profess  to  be 
giving  the  tenth  part  of  the  stirring  events  that  were  being 
enacted  near  or  within  signal  distance  of  his  immediate  com 
mand,  but  has  followed  closely  to  the  'original  intention  of  nar 
rating  only  events  in  which  his  regiment,  or  at  most  his  brigade,, 
was  directly  interested,  a  slight  digression  is  here  deemed 
admissible,  from  the  fact  that,  while  200  miles  or  more  separated 
us  from  Stone  River,  yet  we  were  assisting  Rosecrans's  army, 
and  were  passing  through  scenes  as  trying  and  hazardous  as 
were  any  other  troops  and  were  in  fact  cutting  off  reinforcements 
by  destroying  railroads  leading  from  Richmond  to  Bragg. 

"Carter's  raid,"  an  account  of  which  appears  earlier  in  these 


GENERAL   ROSECRANS    AND    STONE  RIVER.  257 

pages,  was  that  duty,  and  that,  if  excuse  is  needed,  is  ours  for 
giving  a  brief  summary  of  the  terrific  battle  of  Stone  River,  near 
Murfreesboro. 

General  Rosecrans  came  to  us  at  a  time  when  the  army  of 
the  Ohio,  as  it  was  then  called,  surely  needed  a  great  soldier  to 
lead  it.  The  material  of  that  army  had  proven  itself  of  the 
finest  quality.  Twenty-three  thousand  soldiers,  half  of  them 
raw  troops,  had  withstood  the  demoralizing  effects  of  a  surprise, 
rout  and  slaughter,  at  Perryville,  and  rallying  had  beaten  back 
as  fine  a  corps  of  spirited  soldiers  as  ever  wore  the  gray,  under 
one  of  their  hardest  fighters,  Hardee,  backed  by  35,000  men. 

Had  it  happened  where  newspaper  correspondents  were 
courted  and  numerous,  the  country  would  have  been  thrilled  by 
the  brilliant  victory  out  of  defeat. 

But  Rosecrans  saw  the  record,  and  Lincoln  saw  it,  and  had 
his  eye  upon  that  army  and  Rosecrans  at  the  same  time.  There 
had  been  another  record — away  down  in  Mississippi.  Abraham. 
Lincoln  had  a  very  long  head,  and  a  way  of  quietly  asserting  his 
authority  when  he  knew  he  wras  right. 

Buell  had  lost  a  grand  opportunity.  Bragg  had  escaped 
out  of  Kentucky.  Rosecrans  dropped  into  the  place,  knowing 
little  of  til-  '  il  ~-  men,  and  embarrassed  by  great  expecta 
tions  on  th  aation. 

Buell  wat  ive  gone  out  of  Louisville  on  that  mem 

orable  1st'1  /  with  100,000  men  and  flying  colors.  The 

colors  WIT  las  for  that  army!  the  siege  of  Corinth 

and  a  Mis>  ign  had  spread  desolation  in  its  ranks, 

and  every  n  Booneville,  Mississippi,  to  Cincinnati 

was  dottcM  ;  mule  graves,  and  the  rolls  showed  the  de- 


258  GENERAL   ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER. 

plorable  fact  that  there  were  but  68,000  men  within  five  miles 
of  Perryville  and  only  one  third  of  these  engaged,  and  hence 
the  barren  victory. 

The  army  was  thought  well  equipped  and  disciplined,  but 
their  actual  fighting  strength  was  greatly  overrated — probably 
not  less  than  forty  per  cent. 

But  General  Rosecrans  was  known  to  most  of  his  men,  and 
had  from  the  first  their  confidence.  He  saw  with  alarm  that 
nearly  one- third  his  infantry  were  unfit  for  duty,  either  from 
sickness  or  imperfect  arms.  He  also  saw  that  his  cavalry  con 
sisted  of  three  or  four  regiments  that  might  be  called  cavalry, 
yet  were  not  fully  up  to  the  standard  as  compared  with  the  dash 
ing  horsemen  of  the  South,  and  as  to  numbers  the  Confederate 
cavalry  so  greatly  outnumbered  his  that  he  scarcely  dared  send 
his  own  cavalry  out  to  operate  alone  unaccompanied  by  artillery 
and  infantry,  unless  it  was  some  dashing  expedition  where  small 
numbers  stood  a  better  .chance  than  a  multitude. 

And  such  was  the  army  when  General  Rosecrans  came  to 
it  at  Louisville,  October  30,  1862,  and  issued  his  general  order 
No.  1,  assuming  command  of  the  fourteenth  army  corps,  hence 
forth  to  be  known  as  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  an 
nouncing  his  staff— mostly  brought  with  him  from  Mississippi. 

Bowling  Green  '  was  at  the  time  the  southern  terminus  of 
railroad  communication,  but  General  Ncgley  held  Nashville 
with  one  good  division,  and  here  the  Confederate  cavalry  were 
constantly  threatening  that  important  post,  ha  -assing  the  lines 
and  keeping  them  constantly  on  the  alert,  while  Breckenridge 
held  Murfreesboro,  and  Bragg  was  moving  as  rapidly  as  possible 


GENERAL    ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER.  259 

from  his  circuitous  retreat  from  Kentucky  through  east  Tenn 
essee,  to  assist  in  forming  a  strong  barrier  against  our  further 
advance  into  the  South. 

One  of  Rosecrans's  first  acts  was  to  ask  for  General  D.  S. 
Stanley  as  chief  of  cavalry,  and  the  rapid  reconstruction  of  the 
Louisville  &  Nashville  road. 

Very  soon,  headquarters  were  established  at  Bowling  Green 
and  here  General  George  H.  Thomas  joined  Rosecrans,  and 
from  the  first  was  recognized  as  the  real  chief  of  staff  upon 
whom  "old  Rosy"  loved  to  lean,  for  counsel  and  support.  "Old 
Rosy"  and  "Pap  Thomas"  became  at  once  names  to  be  spoken 
in  the  same  breath,  with  loving  confidence,  and  that  confidence 
grew  as  it  became  known  that  frequent  consultations  were  held 
by  them. 

General  McCook  and  corps  were  on  the  way  to  Nashville 
by  November  4th,  and  next  day  artillery  firing  was  heard  in 
the  direction  of  Nashville,  over  forty  miles  away.  Couriers 
met  them  soon  and  announced  that  the  Confederates  had  been 
driven  back  from  an  attempt  to  burn  the  railroad  bridge  across 
the  Cumberland  at  Nashville.  Here  .John  Morgan  established 
his  record  for  dishonorable  warfare,  taking  advantage  of  a  flag 
of  truce  to  form  troops  near  the  works  and  dash  into  the  town. 
But  they  were  driven  off,  the  bridge  saved  and  Nashville 
let  alone. 

Within  ten  days  from  the  time  of  assuming  command 
Rosecrans  had  reconstructed  the  railway  and  established  head 
quarters  at  Nashville,  and  had  formed  his  army  into  three 
wings— Major-General  Aleck  McDowell  McCook  commanding 
the  right,  Major-General  Geo.  II.  Thomas  the  center,  and  Major- 
General  Thomas  L.  Crittenden  the  left. 


260  GENERAL    ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER. 

For  the  next  forty  days  all  were  busy  perfecting  arrange 
ments  for  a  forward  movement.  Supplies  of  all  kinds  were 
hurried  from  the  north  and  the  few  recruits  ready  were  pushed 
on,  thrust  into  blue  clothes,  given  a  musket,  and  informed  they 
were  soldiers  of  Uncle  Sam's  army — "Prepare  to  be  shot." 

Upon  the  sloping  hills  south  and  east  of  Nashville  the 
rows  of  white  tents  gave  one  of  the  most  spirited  of  military 
pictures,  and  with  brothers,  husbands  and  lovers  all  driven  away 
to  the  war,  the  women  of  Nashville  had  nothing  to  do  but  make 
it  interesting  for  the  "Yankee  army" — and  the  arts  and  wiles 
of  those  keen-witted  females  kept  provost  marshals  and  clerks 
busy  with  passes,  or  more  frequently  refusals  of  passes. 

And  so  the  time  passed  rapidly,  General  Stanley  mean 
time  showing  his  mettle  by  a  reconnaissance  to  Triune  and 
Franklin  with  a  small  force  of  cavalry,  capturing  both  of  those 
places  by  a  dash  and  establishing  the  fact  that  the  enemy's 
forces  were  mainly  concentrated  at  Murfreesboro. 

Then  began  the  query  among  outside  parties,  "Why  don't 
Rosecrans  move  ?" — the  same  old  "on  to  Richmond"  cry  for 
ever  ringing  in  the  ears  of  commanding  generals. 

Rosecrans's  invariable  reply  was,  "I'll  move  when  I  get  a 
good  ready.  I  believe  I  know  my  own  business  best,  and  will  not 
allow  public  clamor  to  guide  or  influence  me." 

On  the  5th  of  December  there  were  but  five  days'  rations  at 
Nashville.  By  Christinas,  enough  had  accumulated  to  last 
until  about  the  1st  of  February.  At  this  time  the  muster  rolls 
showed  but  46,910  men,  with  only  about  3,000  cavalry  and  2,000 
artillery  included. 

To  oppose  these,  Braxton  Bragg  was  reported   to   have  an 


GENERAL    ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER.  261 

army  of  75,000  men,  well  disciplined,  and,  for  them,  well  equip 
ped.  Bragg  relied  upon  the  superiority  of  his  troops  in  point 
of  discipline  and  dash,  and  fully  expected  to  keep  Rosecrans 
busy  at  Nashville  with  one  division  while,  with  the  remainder, 
he  crossed  the  Cumberland  and  again  invaded  Kentucky. 

Making  due  allowance  for  sick  and  desertions,  Bragg  had 
probably  not  less  than  60,000  men.  For  Rosecrans  to  confront 
these  with  any  less  numbers  looks,  at  this  distance,  like  foolish 
ness,  with  men  so  nearly  equal  in  fighting  qualities.  But  he  had 
confidence  in  the  staying  qualities  of  his  troops.  He  used  to 
say,  "Bragg  is  a  good  dog,  but  Holdfast  is  a  better;"  and  so  he 
proved. 

On  Christmas  night  Rosecrans  and  his  generals  met  for  con 
sultation  and — "orders."  That  consultation  ended  in  the  chief 
giving  them  all  to  understand  that  he  was  ready  to  move,  and 
proposed  to  "show  Bragg,  to-morrow,  that  the  Federal  army  had 
not  gone  into  winter  quarters;"  and  after  a  vigorous  speech  to 
them,  closed  by  saying,  substantially,  "Fight,  keep  fighting. 
Push,  push  ahead.  Spread  your  skirmishers  far  and  near. 
Keep  fighting  and  pushing.  They  will  not  stand  it.  Good 
night,  gentlemen." 

This  was  past  midnight.  The  indefatigable  Garesche  was 
deep  in  his  papers,  never  weary,  never  out  of  humor,  and,  like  his 
master,  the  General,  was  conscientiously  devotional. 

The  morning  of  Friday,  December  26,  was  dreary  enough; 
black  clouds  hung  over  the  hills  and  thick  mists  climbed  up  from 
the  damp,  dark  valleys.  Soon  the  rain  had  filled  the  little 
streams  to  small  rushing  torrents,  and  as  reveille  rattled  from 
hill  to  hill,  blue  coats  came  swarming  out  of  snow  white  tents 


262  GENERAL   ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER. 

like  ants,  shouting,  crowing,  and  responding  cheerfully,  all 
unmindful  of  the  surroundings.  They  were  ordered  to  break 
camp  and  fall  in,  and  within  the  hour,  breakfast  was  off,  trains 
packed  and  the  army  moved. 

Thomas,  with  his  center  wing,  swung  out  upon  the  right 
to  Brentwood  and  found  nothing. 

McCook  moved  towards  Nolensville  and  Jeff.  C.  Davis's 
division  found  the  enemy  ready  to  dispute  Knob's  Gap. 

Stanley  was  everywhere  along  the  front,  uncovering  every 
nest  and  covering  the  movements  of  the  infantry  as  much 
as  possible  with  his  small  force. 

Crittenden,  with  his  13,300,  moved  down  the  main  pike 
towards  Murfreesboro,  with  Colonel  Minty,  of  the  fourth  Mich 
igan,  and  his  brigade  covering  the  front  and  left.  .The  Confed 
erates  made  a  strong  stand  at  Lavergne  towards  night,  but  Col 
onel  Enyart's  brigade  charged  and  drove  the  enemy  across 
Stony  Creek. 

Awaiting  at  Nashville  to  give  the  different  wings  time  to 
gain  their  points,  Rosecrans  moved  out  with  his  escort,  and  mid 
night  found  him  still  in  the  saddle,  retiring  from  McCook's 
position,  at  or  near  Nolensville,  to  a  position  near  the  left,  nor 
did  he  retire  until  fourteen  hours  had  been  spent  in  the  saddle. 

On  Saturday  the  left  wheel  of  the  army  began  sweeping 
around  Triune,  Harclee  retiring,  and  General  Wood's  division 
pushing  vigorously  through  Lavergne,  capturing  a  few  at  the 
bridge  over  Stewart's  Creek,  and  saving  the  bridge  by  a  dash  of 
our  artillery  to  a  covering  point,  and  Rosecrans  established  his 
headquarters  near  Lavergne,  observing  Sunday  by  religious 
exercises  under  Father  Tracy. 


GENERAL   ROSECRANS    AND    STONE   RIVER.  263 

On  Monday  headquarters  were  movecl  to  Stewartsboro,  and 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  General  Palmer  signaled  from 
the  front  that  he  was  in  sight  of  Murfreesboro,  and  the  enemy 
were  running.  General  Crittenden  was  ordered  to  send  a  divis 
ion  to  occupy  Murfreesboro.  But  in  attempting  to  carry  out 
this  move  Generals  Wood  and  Palmer  found  Breckenridge  in  a 
strong  position,  from  which  it  was  concluded  best  not  to  attempt 
a  dislodgment  until  further  orders.  Orders  were  withheld 
until  evening,  when  the  General  examined  the  situation  along 
the  front,  and  night  settled  down,  with  a  feeling  in  the  minds  of 
all  that  to-morrow  would  bring  stirring  events.  Tuesday,  the 
30th,  dawned,  dark  and  dreary.  Mud  everywhere,  in  which  the 
soldiers  had  lain  all  night,  with  rain  drenching  them,  and  long 
before  daylight  they  were  glad  to  stand  to  arms.  At  seven 
o'clock  Crittenden's  lines  moved  through  the  heavy  cedar  thick 
ets  on  the  left.  The  enemy  had  discovered  Rosecrans's  head 
quarters,  and  dropping  a  few  shells  among  them,  killing  one  of 
his  orderlies  (McDonald),  their  position  was  changed. 

Then  the  maneuvering  of  troops  began,  and  as  line  after 
line  formed  out  to  the  left,  heavy  mutterings  were  heard  away 
on  the  right. 

Around  the  General  staff  officers  were  busy  writing  dis 
patches,  beneath  outspread  rubber  ponchos. 

At  noon  reports  came  of  strong  attacks  upon  McCook's 
right  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Later  the  enemy  cut  our  trains 
on  the  Murfreesboro  pike. 

General  Thomas  was  pushing  successfully  on  the  center  and 
was  directed  to  press  the  enemy  according  to  his  own  discretion. 

McCook  reports  Sheridan  successful  on  the  right  and  Rose- 


264  GENERAL    ROSECRANS  AND    STONE    RIVER. 

crans  said  things  looked  brighter,  and  night  came  down  with 
rain  and  cold;  strong  picket  lines  well  posted  all  along  the  lines, 
and  the  utmost  precaution  taken  to  prevent  surprise. 

McCook  was  directed  to  press  the  right  and  hold  as  long 
as  possible.  Thomas  and  Palmer  were  to  press  the  center, 
Crittenden  to  advance  on  Breckenridge,  and  Wood  to  push  for 
ward  by  the  upper  ford  and  if  possible  take  Murfreesboro. 

Rosecrans's  intentions  were  evidently  to  swing  Wood 
around  by  the  left — and  if  possible  strike  the  enemy  on  their 
right  and  weaken  their  strength,  opposed  to  Thomas  in  the 
center  and  McCook  on  the  right. 

To  McCook  he  said:  "Can  you  hold  your  position  three 
hours  ?" 

"I  think  I  can,"  said  Aleck  McD. 

"Well,  you  know  the  ground;  change  your  position  if  you 
think  necessary." 

And  then  followed  orders,  and  before  they  had  been  de 
livered  to  all,  in  the  morning  the  thunderbolt  had  been  hurled 
against  McCook.  Though  he  was  driven  back  he  was  not  sur 
prised.  It  struck  the  divisions  of  Rousseau,  Negley  and  Sheridan 
and  found  them  standing  to  arms.  But,  as  it  proved,  nearly  all 
of  Bragg's  army  had  concentrated  against  McCook.  Naturally 
they  were  driven.  Stragglers  said:  "The  right  wing  is  broken, 
General  Sill  killed,  two  batteries  captured." 

The  roar  of  artillery  showed  a  sullen  disputing  of  the 
ground,  but  McCook  had  undertaken  more  than  he  thought. 
He  could  not  hold  the  right  three  hours. 

It  was  an  anxious  moment  for  Rosecrans.  To  a  staff 
officer  from  McCook:  "Tell  him  to  hold  every  inch."  He  had 
not  heard  of  the  capture  of  two  brigades. 


GENERAL    EOSECRANS    AXD    STONP:    RIVER.  265 

The  plan  of  battle  was  disconcerted,  but  the  com 
mander  was  not  discouraged.  Mounting  with  his  staff  he  rode 
to  the  rescue.  Ordering  a  brigade  here,  a  battery  there  and 
a  division  yonder — every  point  was  taken  in  at  a  glance. 
Hastening  to  the  right,  amid  a  shower  of  bullets  and  shells,  he 
saw  quiet  Phil  Sheridan  disentangling  himself  from  a  cedar 
thicket;  short  of  ammunition,  but  with  perfect  ranks,  and  ISTegley 
was  still  in  the  fiery  furnace,  in  front  of  Thomas.  Rousseau 
went  to  his  relief.  Gallant  old  Loomis  planted  batteries  here 
and  there  and  a  temporary  check  was  made. 

Sheridan  replenished  his  empty  cartridge  boxes  and  wheeled 
promptly  into  line.  But  the  right  wing  was  unquestionably 
doubled  back  nearly  upon  the  left. 

It  was  the  grandest  moment  of  Rosecrans's  life. 

Although  divisions  were  broken — brigades  and  sections  of 
artillery  captured,  still  the  old  hero  could  exclaim,  "We  shall 
win  this  fight!"  Nineteen  guns  were  a  severe  loss,  but  the  day 
was  not  lost. 

Massing  his  batteries  in  the  center,  never  having  a  thought 

* 
for  his  own  personal  safety,  though  frequently  admonished  not  to 

expose  himself  so  much,  he  said,  after  correcting  his  lines  and 
issuing  orders,  in  person: 

"Forward!  The  whole  line  forward!  Fire  low;  then  charge 
them!  They  can't  stand  cold  steel!" 

And  with  a  crash  from  the  throats  of  every  gun  upon  that 
crest,  before  which  the  Confederate  army  quailed,  forward 
sprung  the  undaunted  heroes  of  Sheridan,  Rousseau,  and  Negley. 

O!  to  what  extent  will  human  nerves  stand  tuning 
with  such  wild,  hellish  music  and  not  break!  Forward  they 


266  GENERAL    ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVEE. 

go,  volley  following  so  close  upon  volley  that  not  a  musket 
shot  was  heard — it  was  as  if  a  thousand  locomotiA'es  were  thunder 
ing  over  as  many  bridges,  and  the  roar  was  simply  awful. 

"Shoot  low!"  Yes,  so  low  that  it  seemed  as  if  scarce  an 
ounce  of  lead  went  astray.  No;  they  could  not  stand  it.  Nor 
did  they  wait  for  "cold  steel."  They  ran. 

"Ah-h!"  and  shouts  drown  all  other  sounds,  as  Rosecrans 
himself  leads  the  charge  in  person,  and  the  enemy  retired  in 
confusion  amid  an  avalanche  of  shot,  shell,  bullets  and  shouts 
of  victory. 

Turning  slightly  to  the  left,  attention  was  turned  to  a  weak 
point,  in  front  of  Thomas,  being  r.ssailed  furiously  by  the  enemy. 
Leading  ths  way,  fresh  batteries  rushed  to  the  rescue,  and 
turning  the  tide  of  battle  at  that  point  solid  positions  were 
being  established  along  our  right,  and  the  enemy  were  rapidly 
forming  on  our  left  center,  though  feinting  the  extreme  right. 

Rosecrans  understood  them  and  prepared  Crittenden  for 
the  struggle,  and  Ilazen  was  discovered  a  trifle  too  far  to  the 
left,  and  was  compelled  to  stand  repeated  assaults  against  his 
brigade,  but  Parsons's  battery  came  up  and  responded  sharply, 
soon  relieving  him. 

Thomas  was  busy  in  the  center;  it  had  become  quiet  on  the 
right,  and  the  ominous  silence  along  towards  the  left  plainly 
indicated  a  decisive  struggle. 

Rosecrans  first  prepared  for  defensive  operations,  hoping 
the  enemy  would  force  the  fight,  estimating  that  the  Confeder 
ates  outnumbered  him  about  0,000  for  the  final  struggle. 

Bragg  had  found  out  his  great  mistake  in  supposing  the 
Confederate  army  the  best  fighters,  man  for  man,  and  he  real- 


GENERAL   ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER.  267 

ized  his  only  hope  lay  in  the  impetuosity  of  his  men.  He  hurled 
a  corps  against  Crittenden.  They  were  hurled  back  with  about 
equal  loss.  Then  came  every  available  man,  thrown  with  all  the 
grandeur  in  which  human  fiends  can  possibly  assume  the  heroic 
form,  but  they  met  solid  phalanx  upon  phalanx,  and  the  crash 
was  simply  horribly  grand  and  terrible.  It  was  discipline 
against  discipline.  *  * 

It  was  the  last  day  of  the  year;  the  sun  was  smiling  upon 
this  scene  of  carnage,  as  it  went  sailing  away  to  the  west,  but 
it  warmed  the  hearts  of  those  Northmen,  cut  off,  as  they  be 
lieved  themselves  to  be,  by  the  enemy's  cavalry  at  Lavergne. 
Grasping  their  guns  with  a  firmer  grip,  lightly  weighing  the 
cartridge  pouch  at  their  sides,  and  casting  a  hasty  glance  at  the 
sun  as  a  sight  they  never  might,  see  again,  they  met  the  on 
slaught  unflinchingly.  Above  and  around  them  five  score  cannon 
belched  forth  iron  and  smoke.  Great  furrows  flew  up  amid 
the  racked  and  bleeding  masses.  Gaps  filled  mechanically. 

To  face  such  a  storm,  mounted,  one  must  surely  lead  a 
charmed  life.  Out  of  all  those  generals  and  staffs,  with  their 
escorts,  it  was  remarkable  so  few  lost  their  lives.  Garesche, 
chief  of  staff,  ever  by  the  side  of  his  general,  lost  his  head, 
snuffed  out  as  suddenly  as  a  candle,  and  he  was  the  second  of 
Rosecrans's  followers  to  whom  "death  came  quick  and  pangless" 
on  that  field,  and  in  the  same  horrible  manner,  but  many  others 
of  the  staff  were  hit  and  a  few  others  were  killed;  while  among 
the  general  officers,  very  few  escaped  unscathed. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  dwell  upon  the  horrors  of  that  or 
any  other  battle  field.  It  could  not  be  pictured  by  pen  or 
brush  in  all  its  realism. 


2C8  GENERAL    BOSECBANS    AND    STONE    BIVEB. 

The  clay  waned  slowly.  Bragg  again  concentrated  on  the 
center.  Again  the  artillery  from  their  commanding  position 
opened  upon  them,  and  the  enemy's  infantry  would  not  come. 
Again  upon  the  left,  and  the  left  stood  firm;  and  the  battle  died 
away,  as  night,  slowly,  silently,  pityingly,  rung  down  her  curtain 
upon  the  bloody  scene,  and  Rosecrans  was  master  of  the  field; 
yet  the  army  retired  to  rest,  as  rest  they  might,  with  the  fullest 
expectation  of  renewing  the  engagement  upon  the  morrow. 
Troops  had  been  thrown  like  a  shuttlecock,  from  right  to  left, 
and  from  left  to  right,  regardless  of  rear  communications.  "We 
will  die  right  here,  or  we  will  win  this  battle,"  said  Rosecrans, 
and  his  generals  echoed,  "Like  men!"  and  there  were  no  lag 
gards.  Many  of  our  troops  were  short  of  rations;  but  there 
was  never  a  murmur. 

"We  may  have  to  eat  parched  corn,  but  we  will  stay  by 
them/'  said  Rosy.  "We  have  enough  ammunition  for  another 
battle,"  and  preparations  were  made  for  the  morrow.  It  was 
cold  and  very  dismal;  but  they  slept  on  their  arms  where  they 
had  fought.  Some  cut  and  broiled  horse  steaks,  and  others 
parched  corn,  and  after  midnight  rain  fell  again.  Long  before 
day  the  troops  were  in  line,  ready  for  the  onslaught.  New  lines 
were  formed,  and  new  plans  adopted,  but  the  day  wore  away 
with  only  demonstrations,  and  January  1st  closed  down  with 
the  two  armies  holding  their  own. 

On  the  2d  the  maneuvering  continued,  until  Breckenridge 
with  a  strong  corps  moved  solidly  against  the  left.  They  were 
met  with  a  terrific  cannonade. 

The  lines  break,  and  Davis,  Carl  in  and  Morton  dash  upon 
them,  and  the  enemy  are  routed — leaving  2,000  upon  the  field, 


GENERAL    ROSECRANS    AND    STONE    RIVER.  260 

and  again  the  old  hero  says,  "We  shall  beat  them!"  Sunday 
passed  with  few  demonstrations  from  the  enemy,  met  promptly 
and  with  disaster  to  the  Confederates,  and  before  daylight 
Monday  morning  burial  parties  brought  intelligence  that  the 
enemy  had  fled. 

High  mass  was  held  that  morning,  and  so,  after  seven  days- 
of  heroic  struggles  and  self  denial,  the  army  could  rest.  Our 
losses  were: 

KILLED.  WOUNDED. 

Officers 92        Officers 384 

Enlisted  men 1,441        Enlisted  men 6,861 

Prisoners 3,000 

Total  loss 11,778 

The  enemy's  los*  was  not  known,  but  as  they  were  the 
assailants,  it  must  have  been  much  heavier  than  ours.  They 
left  only  those  they  were  compelled  to  and  left  nothing  for 
them  to  eat.  They  buried  many,  but  not  all,  and  took  with 
them  all  that  were  but  slightly  wounded. 

Rosecrans  marched  in,  and  the  fate  of  Bragg's  army  was 
sealed.  It  had  been  a  fair,  stand  up  fight  in  the  open  field,  and 
Northern  steadfastness  had  won  the  first  victory  of  the  war  where 
neither  numbers  nor  position  were  in  our  favor. 


BIOGRAPHIES    OF    A    FEW  PROMINENT    OFFICERS. 

GORDON    GEA.NGER. 

The  civil  war  in  America  developed  few  brighter  military 
geniuses  than  Gqneral  Gordon  Granger,  yet  we  have  not,  as  a 
nation,  begun  to  look  upon  him  as  among  our  heroes.  He  grad 
uated  from  West  Point  in  1845,  being  sent  therefrom  New 
York,  near  Geneva,  where  he  was  born.  He  was  about  thirty- 
five  or  thirty-six  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  (the  date  of 
his  birth  is  not  at  hand).  He  entered  the  army  under  General 
Scott,  in  Mexico,  and  served  with  honors  at  the  battles  of  Yera 
Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Contrei'as,  Cherubusco,  Chapultepec  and  the 
City  of  Mexico,  and  was  breveted  first  lieutenant  for  gallantry 
at  Contreras  and  Cherubusco,  and  at  Chapultepec  was  breveted 
captain  for  meritorious  services. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  was  mustering 
officer  at  Cincinnati,  and  soon  after  was  with  General  Lyon  at 
Wilson's  Creek,  Missouri,  where  Lyon  was  killed,  and  for  cour 
ageous  conduct  was  breveted  major.  At  this  time  he  was  sent 
to  St.  Louis  on  some  special  duty  and,  while  there,  was  appoint 
ed,  by  Governor  Blair,  of  Michigan,  colonel  of  the  second  Mich 
igan  cavalry,  and  his  military  genius  soon  asserted  itself  by 


GORDON    GRANGER.  271 

many  severe  lessons  to  the  volunteer  officers  and  men  of  this 
regiment.  He  brought  them  up  to  the  full  standard  of  regulars 
within  a  period  of  three  months. 

Men  of  his  stamp  were  needed  then,  and  he  never  had  the 
opportunity  to  take  the  regiment  into  a  fight,  but  was  given 
a  star  and  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade,  then  a  division, 
'and  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  nearly  every  man 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Big,  rough  fellows,  soldiers 
in  the  Second,  who  had  carried  logs  and  rode  wooden 
horses,  under  the  discipline  of  <cOld  Granger,"  as  they 
called  him,  stood  in  silent  awe  as  they  first  saw  him  under 
fire  at  New  Madrid,  giving  his  personal  attention  to  the 
field  pieces,  shaking  the  dirt  from  his  whiskers  as  a  cannon  ball 
buried  him  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  moving  along  the  line  uncon 
cernedly.  One  of  these  same  wooden  horse  heroes  from  the  pine 
woods  of  Michigan  was  heard  to  exclaim,  admiringly,  c 'Bully 
for  old  Granger  !  " 

He  was  Pope's  right  hand  man  and  chief  counselor  during 
that  short  and  brilliant*  campaign,  and,  with  Pope,  took  the 
center  of  Halleck's  army  in  front  of  Corinth. 

After  the  evacuation  and  demoralization  of  Beauregard's 
army  at  that  place,  Granger  was  ordered  to  Cincinnati  to 
command  the  department  and  the  army  of  Kentucky,  where  he 
remained  until  after  the  battle  of  Slone  River,  when  he  joined 
Rosecrans,  merging  his  army  into  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  held  command  of  the  right  wing,  which  occupied,  as  an  out 
post,  Franklin,  until  the  grand  forward  movement  to  the  south 
east,  through  Tennessee,  began,  in  1863,  and  the  right  wing  swung 
around  the  center,  bearing  the  scattering  fragments  of  Bragg's 
army  back  upon  Chattanooga. 


2^2  GORDON    GRANGER. 

This  corps  was  known  there  as  the  "reserve  corps,"  consisting 
of  three  divisions— General  Stanley  (who  had  l>een  transferred 

from  the  cavalry),  General  Steadman  and  General  

Bragg  withdrew  from  Chattanooga,  and  Granger  slipped  in, 
and  with  Steadman's  division  moved  down  to  the  front. 

Rosecrans  placed  him  on  the  left,  ordering  him  to  hold 
Thomas's  extreme  left,  to  look  after  Reed's  bridge  over  the  west 
fork  of  Chicamauga  creek,  and  prevent  any  force  from  coming 
in  on  that  flank  that  might  attempt  to  get  in  our  rear  through 
Lafayette  gap.  That  was  Saturday.  Taking  up  a  position 
on  a  little  ridge  in  front  of  McAfee's  church,  overlooking  the 
valley  and  bridge  in  plain  sight,  they  burned  the  bridge  and 
lay  there  all  night,  expecting  a  severe  engagement  in  their 
front  next  day.  But,  instead,  Bragg  hurled  his  best  troopsr 
with  the  veterans  of  Longstreet's  army,  from  Richmond,  against 
Thomas,  expecting  to  crush  him  in  the  center  and  destroy  the 
wings  afterward. 

Granger  heard  the  fierce  assaults  and  knew  that  Thomas 
needed  him.  He  sent  an  aid  to  General  Rosecrans  and  asked 
if  he  might  not  go  to  Thomas's  assistance.  The  aid  returned 
and  could  not  find  Rosecrans;  his  headquarters  had  been  moved 
and  the  enemy  was  there.  Granger  sent  again  and  again 
the  third  time;  meantime  he  was  chafing  like  a  caged  lion. 
At  last  he  sent  all  his  staff  away  and  they  dashed  here  and 
there,  often  riding  to  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  knowing  Rose- 
crans's  disregard  of  personal  safety.  They  returned  to  Granger 
at  half  past  eleven  in  the  morning,  and  all  reported  failure. 
He  was  pacing  up  and  down  in  front  of  the  little  church. 
His  orders  were  imperative  to  hold  the  bridge  at  all  hazards. 


GORDON    GRANGES.  273 

Should  he  disobey?  He  listened  a  moment,  then  paced,  and 
looked,  and  the  storm  gathering  upon  his  face  was  something 
terrible  to  behold.  At  last,  turning  to  his  chief  of  artillery, 
Colonel  Thompson,  he  said,  "I  can't  stand  this  any  longer;  we 
are  needed  over  there,"  and  immediately  sent  his  staff  in  differ 
ent  directions.  Soon  General  Steadman  had  two  of  his  brigades, 
Whittaker's  and  Mitchell's,  hurrying  forward  in  the  direction 
of  the  awful  roar  which  they  feared  meant  destruction  to  General 
Thomas. 

Ed  McCook's  brigade  remained  to  guard  the  passage  of  the 
bridge.  The  march  to  Thomas  was  made  in  short  time,  and 
they  reached  there  none  too  soon.  The  enemy  were  pressing 
nearer  and  nearer  in  heavy  lines,  and  the  ridge  which  Thomas 
had  held  all  day  was  apparently  within  the  grasp  of  the  enemy, 
when  Granger,  with  Steadman,  Whittaker  and  Mitchell,  hurled 
their  two  brigades  of  fresh  troops  against  the  flanks  of  the 
enemy,  and  they  recoiled  with  a  shake  like  a  discomfited  blood 
hound  pack,  and  rallying  again,  the  next  onslaught  was  weaker, 
the  defense  stronger.  The  Confederates  break;  the  Federals 
charge,  and  "that  red  field  was  won." 

Reporting  to  General  Thomas  he  was  welcomed  by  a  warm 
shake  of  the  hand  and — "Well,  General,  fifteen  minutes  more 
would  have  been  too  late." 

General  Granger  is  dead,  but  his  staff  (many  of  them) 
live  to  honor  him  and  love  his  memory. 

After  Chicamauga  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
fourth  army  corps,  and  as  he  was  misrepresented  by  certain 
army  officers,  he  was  glad  to  be  relieved  and  enter  some  other 
army,  where  the  spirit  of  jealousy  did  not  so  seriously  exist. 


274  GORDON    GRANGER. 

He  went  -to  Canby,  at  New  Orleans,  and  took  charge  of  the 
land  forces  co-operating  with  General  Farragut  against  Mobile. 
Later  ho  commanded  the  reorganized  thirteenth  army  corps. 

After  the  war  closed  and  we  had  too  many  generals,  Gordon 
Granger  found  himself  Colonel  of  the  twenty-fifth  United 
States  infantry,  stationed  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  where 
he  died,  and  was  removed  to  Lexington,  Kentucky.  There  a 
handsome  monument  has  been  erected  by  his  widow.  He  was 
breveted  for  meritorious  services,  at  Mobile,  as  brigadier,  and 
at  Forts  Gaines  and  Morgan  as  major-general,  but  he  lacke'd  the 
necessary  influence  at  Washington,  and,  obedient  to  the  last  (a 
duty  which  amounted  to  religion  with  him),  he  dropped  back 
to  his  rank  of  Colonel. 

Taken  all  in  all,  Gordon  Granger  died  with  a  good  big 
account  to  his  credit  from  his  country. 

An  eye  witness  at  Chicamauga  says:  "If  Gordon  Granger 
had  never  fought  in  another  battle  than  Chicamauga,  that  one 
heroic  act — disobeying  orders  (to  stay  at  Rossville,  or  McAfee's 
church,  until  ordered  up),  at  the  risk  of  his  military  head  and 
reputation,  should  stamp  his  name  forever  indelibly  upon  the 
hearts  of  a  grateful  people."  Thomas  was  being  surrounded. 
He  could  and  did  repel  the  assaults  of  Bragg's  whole  army, 
but  his  lion  heart  almost  sunk  within  him  as  he  saw  the  enemy 
pouring  around  his  right  under  cover  of  a  gorge.  Every  man 
and  every  gun  was  bathed  in  fire,  smoke  and  blood,  and  must 
stand  or  fall  where  they  stood — none  could  be  spared  to  meet 
this  new  emergency — and  then,  O,  Heaven!  where  was  his 
commander,  Rosecrans,  and  all  the  troops  that  ought  to  be 
within  call?  Must  he  surrender,  or,  continue  the  butchery  ? 


GORDON    GRANGER.  275 

Away  to  the  left  a  cloud  of  dust,  streaming  banners,  hurrying 
troops.  Was  it  the  enemy  ?  Think  of  the  suppressed  agony  of 
that  grand  old  man  as  he  nervously  handed  his  glass  to  a 
staff  officer  and  said:  "My  horse  is  unsteady — here,  what  do 
you  see?"  He  could  not  make  it  out.  Turning  sharply  to  an 
officer,  in  a  tone  very  unusual  to  him,  he  almost  shouted; 
"What  troops  are  those?  Find  out!"  and  he  never  took 
his  eye  from  the  point,-  though  the  roar  on  his  right  was  as  if 
the  heavens  were  rent  asunder  and  the  earth  trembled  with 
earthquake  shocks.  At  last  he  drops  his  arm,  breathes  a  sigh  as 
if  the  whole  nation  breathed  through  him,  and  his  countenance 
changes,  as  lightning  changes,  from  darkness  to  light.  He  saw 
and  recognized  the  battle  flag  of  Granger. 

O,  glorious  Thomas  and  glorious  Granger!  His  heart 
told  him  there  was  need  of  help,  though  the  summons  did  not 
come,  and  he  was  there  none  too  quick.  Never  waiting  for 
orders  he  hurls  his  fresh  troops  upon  the  flanks  of  the  assaulting 
foe,  and  Thomas  is  saved. 

With  all  his  gruff  ways,  Gordon  Granger  at  times  revealed 
a  strong  character  for  justice,  truth  and  mercy. 

A  company  commander,  thinking  himself  and  his  men  ag 
grieved,  appealed  to  Colonel  Granger.  "All  Task  is  simple  justice." 
And  the  reply  came  prompt  and  vigorous,  "I  will  do  what 
is  right,  though  the  heavens  fall."  An  officer  who  deceived  him, 
disregarding  truth  and  promises,  was  put  under  arrest,  charges 
preferred  against  him,  and  he  would  have  been  dismissed  from 
the  service  promptly  but  for  his  humble  apologies  and  appeals 
for  mercy.  Then  the  officer  was  released,  and  placed  on  duty 
again— a  faithful  and  truthful  subaltern  ever  after.  Another 


276  GORDON    GRANGER. 

who  disregarded  the  rules  of  the  service  as  to  sobriety,  was 
promptly  dismissed.  A  citizen  who  had  been  arrested  on  sus 
picion  of  prowling  about  camp  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  to  gain 
information  useful  to  the  enemy,  was  interceded  for  by  a  Union 
man,  who  represented  that  the  man  was  mentally  irresponsible, 
a  victim  of  epilepsy.  While  the  prisoner  was  being  discussed, 
he  sat  not  far  away,  leaning  against  a  tree. 

"Look,  General!" 

The  man  had  fallen  over,  his  arms  flying  wildly  in  spasm?. 

"Take  him  away,  quick,  I  don't  want  him  dying  on  my 
hands,"  and  he  got  up  and  mDved  into  his  tent,  out  of  sight. 
It  has  been  hinted  that  itwas,  as  the  sayinggoes,  "a  put  up  job." 
But  the  General  was  undoubtedly  glad  of  an  excuse  to  send  the 
man  through  the  lines. 

When  Gordon  Granger  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  second  Michigan  cavalry  at  Benton  Barracks,  St  Louis,  there 
was  not  much  love  for  the  man  at  first  among  the  officers  or 
privates.  A  strict  disciplinarian,  he  had  no  patience  with  careless 
infringement  of  strict  military  orders,  and  his  way  of  bringing 
volunteers  to  the  same  level  with  regulars  was  often  made  the 
subject  of  unfavorable  comment.  Our  little  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
as  gallant  an  officer  as  ever  "mounted  ahorse,"  was  compelled 
to  resign  for  the  too  common  offense  of  intoxication,  though 
he  was  an  old  soldier  in  the  Crimea,  and  later  in  our  war  did 
good  service  as  a  lieutenant  or  captain  in  some  other  regi 
ment. 

But  the  Colonel  met  his  match  just  once.  A  rough  charac 
ter  (of  company — Q — let  us  say)  was  taking  care  of  his 
horse  in  the  stable  in  his  own  peculiar  way  (good  care  enough, 


GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  277 

only  peculiar)  when  the  Colonel  came  "smelling  around,"  with 
out  shoulder  straps  or  other  insignia  of  rank,  and  called  out  to 
"Charley"  roughly,  "What  are  you  doing  there?" 

"None  your  d business." 

"Do  you  know  who  I  am?" 

"No!  nor  I  don't  care  a  d— 

Without  replying,  Colonel  Granger  seized  a  piece  of  board 
and  was  about  to  "break  up  camp,"  when  a  fork  was  caught  up 
and  rushing  at  the  Colonel,  Charley  drove  him  out  of  the  stable. 
For  a  wonder  the  fellow  was  not  arrested,  and  though  Charley 
manifested  no  uneasiness  about  the  matter,  he  insisted  that  he 
did  not  know  who  it  was,  but  would  have  done  the  same  in  any 
event.  "Let  old  Granger  put  on  his  shoulder  straps  if  he  wants 
to  give  any  orders  around  here,"  was  his  only  comment. 

But  later  in  the  war  the  regiment  thought  much  of  him; 
in  fact  were  proud  of  him. 


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL    P.    H.    SHERIDAN. 

The  stone  that  the  builders  reject  not  infrequently  becomes 
the  head  of  the  corner,  and  Captain  Phil  Sheridan  is  an 
example  in  point.  When  .  the  second  and  third  regiments  of 
Michigan  cavalry  were  at  Benton  Barracks,  St  Louis,  the  Second 
chose  Captain  Gordon  Granger  for  their  Colonel  from  the  regu 
lar  army.  Not  to  be  outdone,  the  Third  sent  out  a  committee 
of  officers  to  hunt  up  a  regular  army  officer  that  in  their  judg- 


278  GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ment  would  do  for  their  colonel.  In  their  smelling  around  they 
found  Captain  Sheridan,  of  the  quartermaster's  department.  He 
was  of  the  opinion  that  the  war  would  be  over  before  he  had  a 
chance  to  get  above  a  captaincy.  His  first  appearance  did  not 
seem  to  impress  the  committee  favorably,  for  they  came  back 
and  reported,  as  their  first  day's  work:  "We  found  a  little 
red  faced  Irishman  down  there  that  some  of  those  regular  officers 
would  like  to  saddle  onto  us;  but  we  don't  think  we  want 
him."  They  selected  a  genteel,  strict,  band-box  disciplinarian 
from  West  Point,  with  a  good  record  as  an  organizer,  and  a  bet- 
er  record  for  insisting  upon  all  the  details  of  drill,  bright  but 
tons  and  blacked  shoes,  than  for  exceeding  his  orders  in  the 
field.  But  the  material  of  the  Third  was  equal  to  any  regiment 
in  the  field. 

Colonel  Phil  Sheridan  was  not  one  of  your  cringing  sort  of 
men,  and  was  ever  ready  to  assert  his  rights,  under  every  cir 
cumstance. 

One  day  the  regiment  had  occasion  to  halt  by  the  roadside, 
and  the  Colonel  was  busy  looking  after  certain  affairs  connected 
with  the  movement  of  the  troops  from  Mississippi  to  Kentucky, 
when  an  officer  came  out  of  a  house  and,  speaking  from  the 
veranda  told  some  of  the  men  to  "Tell  the  commander  of  this 
cavalry  to  move  on  away  from  the  front  of  my  headquarters." 
The  soldier  reported  the  fact  to  Colonel  Sheridan. 

"Who is  it?" says  the  Colonel. 

"General  Grant,  I  believe." 

"Tell  General  Grant  this  is  Sheridan's  cavalry,  and  he  says 
he  will  move  when  lie  gets  a  d good  ready!" 


GENERAL  SHERIDAN.  279 

The  soldier  obeyed  to  the  letter,  but  as  nothing  more  was 
heard  of  it,  it  is  presumed  the  General  rather  liked  him  for  it,  as 
he  highly  complimented  Sheridan  not  long  afterwards  for  cer 
tain  military  operations. 

A  horse  pistol,  even  if  it  was  a  Colt  revolver  was  not 
always  supposed  to  be  an  accurate  shooter;  but  Colonel  Sheridan 
taught  the  boys  one  day  that  good  shooting  could  be  done  with 
it,  if  they  tried.  A  rattlesnake  lay  coiled  up  in  a  brush 
heap,  with  his  head  raised  as  if  about  to  strike,  when  the  Colonel 
decapitated  him  as  slick  as  if  cut  with  a  knife. 

At  the  outset  Sheridan  won  the  hearts  of  his  soldiers  by  his 
thoughtful  care  of  them.  At  the  struggle  with  Chalmers, 
Booneville,  Mississippi,  July  1st,  1862,  about  forty  had  been 
wounded,  more  or  less  seriously  (a  large  number  for  so  small  a 
handful  engaged),  and  a  number  of  the  enemy  wounded  had  also 
fallen  into  our  hands  and  had  received  equal  attention  with  our 
own  men.  It  was  near  midnight  when  the  surgeons  had  made 
all  as  comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit,  and  were 
wrapping  themselves  in  their  blankets  for  a  few  hours  of  rest* 
when  Colonel  Sheridan  came  to  the  surgeons'  quarters  and 
inquired,  in  his  quiet  way,  as  to  the  condition  and  number  of 
the  wounded.  "Can  they  be  moved  without  injury  to  the 
men  ?  " 

"They  can." 

"It  is  quite  possible  that  we  may  be  attacked  again  in  the 
morning,  and  it  would  be  better  for  them  to  be  away  from  the 
excitement,  and  if  you  think  they  can  endure  it  have  the  ambu 
lances  at  work  at  once,  and  take  them  to  Rienzi.  An  escort 
will  be  ready  to  accompany  you." 


280  GENERAL  SHERIDAN. 

This  was  accomplished  before  morning,  and  the  poor  fellows 
breathed  more  freely  as  they  felt  they  were  not  to  be  left  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  an  enemy. 

Among  the  "immortal  names  that  were  not  born  to  die"  the 
present  century  has  furnished  none  brighter  for  the  pages  of 
history  than  that  of  Sheridan. 

This  can  be  said  without  detracting,  in  the  least,  from  the 
glorious  records  of  other  illustrious  captains  of  the  age. 
General  Grant  won  fame  by  possessing  a  broad,  comprehensive 
mind,  coupled  with  stubborn  tenacity,  and  cool  executive  ability, 
though  lacking  in  that  concentrative,  quick,  dashing  force  that 
characterized  the  great  Napoleon.  -Grant's  opinion  of  Sheridan 
was  "one  of  the  ablest  generals  of  the  day,"  and  this,  too  at  a 
time  when  Sheridan  had  scarce  shed  his  regimental  clothes. 
And  before  the  country  had  begun  to  recognize  him  as  anything 
more  than  a  good  division  commander,  he  electrified  all  Christ 
endom  by  his  masterly  achievements  with  whole  army  corps, 
wheeling  into  line  as  methodically  as  a  small  band  of  scouts 
might  do,  and  crushing  the  finest  Confederate  army  that  had 
occupied  the  Shenandoah  valley. 

Not  waiting  for  the  results  of  an  all  day  stand  up  slaughter, 
strategy  and  dash  combined  enabled  him  to  hurl  a  fighting  corps 
upon  a  vulnerable  point  in  the  rear  and  flank,  and  demoralization 
seized  the  enemy  as  victory  followed  fast  upon  the  banners  of 
the  assailants. 

The  ability  to  command  an  army,  and  not  forget  the  smaller 
details  of  flank  movements,  meeting  surprises  with  surprise,  is 

given  to  but  few,  and  among  that  few  General  P.    H.  Sheridan 

*  , 

will  ever  occupy  a  prominent  place  in  history. 


GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  281 

When  the  war  begun,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  a 
little  past  the  period  of  boyhood.  He  was  born  September  6th, 
1831,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  was  therefore  not  quite  thirty 
years  old  in  1861.  But  he  looked,  every  inch,  the  soldier  that 
he  was,  with  his  broad  shoulders,  long,  heavily  set  arms  and  trunk, 
though  a  little  below  the  medium  in  hight,  not  so  much  so  as  he 
jokingly  made  himself  appear  sometimes. 

As  we  watch  his  movements,  quick,  alert,  decided,  he  sug 
gests  to  the  swordsman  "a  dangerous  antagonist,"  and  to  the 
pistol  shot  a  man  of  quick  eye,  steady  nerve,  and — well,  look 
out!  But  when  greeting  friends  his  face  wears  a  natural  pleas 
ant  look  that  is  very  gratifying  to  his  admirers,  none  of  whom 
have  yet  been  able  to  turn  his  head  with  their  flattery,  a  very 
strong  point. 

Admiration  for  bravery  is  instinctive  in  the  human  breast. 
While  no  one  doubted  Sheridan's  courage,  he  very  seldom,  while 
colonel  of  the  Second,  had  opportunity  for  showing  disregard 
of  personal  safety.  We  must  therefore  look  to  other  qualities 
for  his  popularity  among  his  officers  and  men.  He  was  above 
any  vain  desire  of  exhibiting  his  courage  to  win  esteem,  but  if 
he  could  win  a  battle  by  dividing  his  men  and  using  strategy  he 
looked  upon  it  as  saving  his  men  and  gaining  time,  and  to  think 
was  to  act — no  "all  summer"  business  about  him.  We  see  this 
strategy  first  developing  itself  at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  where 
he  defeated  Chalmers,  having  5,000  men,  with  less  than  1,000,  by 
sending  a  part  to  attack  suddenly  in  the  rear.  And  again,  on  a 
larger  scale,  when  he  made  a  feint  in  front  of  Early,  at  Fisher's 
Hill,  firing  away  with  musketry  at  "nothing"  for  half  a  day  in 
front,  while  a  strong  force  by  a  circuitous  route  struck  him  in 


GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

the  rear  and  "sent  him  whirling  up  the  valley."  And  yet  at  each 
of  those  engagements  we  find  him  very  careful  of  his  men,  his 
losses  being  comparatively  trifling.  He  looked  upon  every 
officer,  soldier  and  horse  as  holding  certain  important  positions 
in  the  great  problem  of  war,  and  his  first  duty  to  his  country 
demanded  the  greatest  possible  return  for  the  men  and  material 
intrusted  to  him;  and  first  the  officers  and  men  were  treated  as 
human  beings,  possessed  of  like  feelings  and  instincts  as  himself, 
and  were  never  called  upon  to  expose  themselves  needlesslv, 
but  avail  themselves  of  every  protection  which  nature  threw  in 
their  way — a  tree,  fence,  log,  or,  if  neither  presented  itself, 
then  load  and  fire  from  the  ground.  He  could  see  nothing 
cowardly  in  that,  nor  anything  especially  deserving  of  com 
mendation  if  a  command  stood  up  and  fired  in  the  open  field 
where  their  comrades  were  falling  all  around  them;  better  lie 
down,  advance  or  retreat.  And,  so,  men  have  learned  to  look 
upon  him,  not  as  a  butcher,  but  as  a  man,  a  comrade,  a  soldier. 

To  a  staff  officer  who  had  been  riding  hard  all   day:     "Mr. 

— ,  you're  pretty  tired,  I  expect,  but  I  should  like  to  know 
how  Captain  —  -  is  getting  on  in  his  scouting  over  on  the 
right.  Take  a  fresh  horse  if  you  go  again."  And  again,  as  an 
aid  came  into  his  tent  late  at  night,  to  report,  he  finds  the  Gen 
eral  rolled  in  his  blankets,  but  wide  awake,  a  light  burning  and 
ready  for  business.  He  hears  the  report,  an  1  remarks  simply: 
1  'That's  good.  Reach  that  bottle  and  a  couple  of  glasses  over 
there,"  his  usual  toast,  "How;"  the  glasses  clink,  and  the  Gen 
eral  joins  the  least  of  his  staff  in  a  social  "night-cap." 

His  care  for  the  faithful  animals  that  bore  him  and  his  fol- 


GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  283 

lowers  over  many  a  hard  trip  and  through  many  a  victory  was 
proverbial.  If  on  the  midnight  march  the  horses  needed  easing 
up  a  bit,  the  men  were  dismounted  and  led  their  horses  until 
ordered  to  mount;  and  if  any  crept  into  their  saddles  before  the 
General  did,  they  were  sure  to  receive  a  shot  from  the  General's 
vigorous  English  that  brought  them  to  their  feet,  at  their  horses' 
heads,  tramping  along  in  cowed  silence.  Yet,  next  day,  if  the 
humblest  private  sought  the  General's  tent  for  some  favor,  his 
request  was  listened  to  with  gravest  consideration.  And  ever, 
when  greeted  by  any  member  of  his  old  regiment,  after  he  had 
won  a  star,  his  hat  was  lifted  with  as  much  courtesy  as  if 
addressing  an  equal  in  rank.  And  always  when  cheered  by  the 
command  he  received  their  adulation  with  as  much  modesty  as 
a  woman. 

In  personal  appearance  he  was  not  unlike  President  Lin 
coln's  description  of  him.  "A  little  brown  fellow,  with  a  large 
body,  short  legs,  not  enough  neck  to  hang  him,  and  arms  long 
enough  to  scratch  his  ankles  without  stooping,"  yet  no  one  who 
has  seen  him  casually  would  remark  anything  unusual  in  his 
form.  That  he  has  an  iron  frame  and  a  strong  constitution  that 
ought  to  prolong  his  days  to  a  good  old  age  is  very  plain  to  be 
seen;  and  in  the  minds  of  those  who  have  studied  his  military 
genius  most  there  rests  a  satisfied  conviction  that  this  nation  has 
nothing  to  fear  in  having  General  Philip  Henry  Sheridan  at  the 
head  of  the  United  States  army.  "Long  may  he  live  to  remain 
there,"  is  the  fervent  wish  of  all  his  old  comrades,  and  may 
he  escape  the  hands  of  politicians  that  would  make  him. 
President.  We  would  sooner  see  him  where  he  is. 


284  GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

MILITARY  HISTORY.     Cadet  at  the   United  States  Military 
Academy,  from  July    1,    1848,   to   July    1,  1S53,  when  lie   was 
graduated  and  promoted  in  the  Army    to   Brevet   Second   Lieu 
tenant  of   Infantry,    July     1,     1853.     Served:     In    garrison   at 
Newport  Barracks,  Kentucky,  from  September  1853,  to  March, 
1854;  on  frontier   duty   at  Fort  Duncan,  La   Pena  and  Turkey 
Creek,  Texas,  March,  1854,  to  March,  1855;  in   garrison  at   Fort 
Columbus,  N.  Y.,  June   and    July,    1855;     Second    Lieutenant, 
fourth   infantry,    November  22,   1854;  on  frontier  duty  duty  es 
corting     topographical    party    from    Sacramento  Valley,    Cali 
fornia,  to  Columbia  River,  Oregon,   in   August  and   September, 
1855.     Commanding    detachment   of   dragoons   in  the  Yakima 
expedition,    October    to   December,     1855, — stationed    at   Fort 
Vancouver,  Washington  Territory,  December,  1855,  to   March, 
1856, — scouting  against  Indians    in  March,    1856, — engagement 
with  Indians  while   defending   the    Cascades  of  the   Columbia 
River,  Washington    Territory,   April  28,    1856,    (complimented 
for  gallantry  in  this  engagement  by    Lieutenant-General    Scott, 
in  Army  Orders  No.   14,  of    1857,) — stationed  at  Grande   Rondo 
Indian    Reservation,    Oregon,  from   April    to   July,    1856, — at 
Fort  Hoskins,  Oregon,  August,  1856,  to  May,  1857,  and   at   Fort 
Yamhill,  Oregon,  June,    1857,  to  September,    1861.     First  lieu 
tenant,     fourth     infantry,    March    1,  1861.     Served   during  the 
rebellion  of  the  seceding   states,  as  captain   thirteenth   infantry, 
May  14,    1861.   President   of   board   for  auditing  claims   at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  in  November  and  December,  1861.     Served   as 
chief  quartermaster  and  chief   commissary  of    the   army  of   the 
southwest  in  the  Pea  Ridge  campaign,  from  December  26,  1861, 
to  March  12,   1862, — served  in    the    Mississippi    campaign   from 


GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  285 

April  to  September,  1862,  as  follows:  Quartermaster  of  Major- 
General  Halleck's  headquarters  on  the  advance  to  Corinth, 
Mississippi,  in  April  and  May,  1862. 

Colonel  second  Michigan  cavalry  volunteers,  May  25,  1862. 
Commanding  second  Michigan  cavalry  in  the  following  opera 
tions:  Expedition  to  and  capture  of  Booneville,  Mississippi,. 
May  28th  and  29th,  1862, — pursuit  of  rebels  from  Corinth  to 
Baldwin,  Mississippi,  May  30th  to  June  8th,  1862;  commanding 
regiment  in  engagements  with  the  enemy  at  Booneville,  Black- 
land,  Donaldson's  Cross-Roads  and  Baldwin.  Commanding 
second  brigade,  cavalry  division,  army  of  the  Mississippi,  from 
June  llth,  in  the  following  operations:  Battle  of  Booneville, 
Mississippi,  July  1,  1862;  expedition  to  Guntown,  with  flag  of 
truce,  July  10,  1862;  expedition  to  and  capture  of  Ripley, 
Mississippi,  July  28,  1862;  forced  reconnaissance  on  enemy's 
lines,  with  engagement  near  Guntown,  Mississippi,  capturing 
prisoners  and  300  animals,  August  15,  1862,  and  engagement 
near  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  August  26,  1862.  Brigadier-General 
United  States  Volunteers,  July  1,  1862,  for  battle  of  Booneville. 
Commanding  third  division,  army  of  Kentucky,  on  the  advance 
into  Kentucky,  in  September  1862;  commanding  eleventh  division 
third  corps,  army  of  the  Ohio,  in  the  battle  of  Chaplin  Hills  or 
Perry  ville,  Kentucky,  October  8,  1862,  and  on  the 
march  to  the  relief  of  Nashville,  in  October  and 
November,  1862.  Commanding  the  eleventh  division, 
fourteenth  army  corps,  the  third  division,  right  wing,  four 
teenth  army  corps,  and  the  third  division,  twentieth  army  corps, 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  successively,  in  the  Tennessee  cam 
paign  from  November,  1862,  to  September,  1863.  Commanding 


286  GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

the  third  division,  twentieth  army  corps,  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  or Murf reesboro,  Tennessee,  December  31, 18G2,  to  January 
3,  1863,  (Major-General  United  States  Volunteers,  December 
1862,  to  November  8,  1864,  for  battle  of  Murfreesboro)  and  in 
the  following  operations:  Engagement  at  Eagleville,  Tennessee, 
capturing  train  and  prisoners,  March,  1863, — in  pursuit  of  rebels 
under  General  Van  Dorn,  from  Franklin  to  Columbia,  March, 
1863;  in  the  advance  on  Tullahoma,  Tennessee,  June  24th  to 
July  4th,  1863,  crossing  the  Cumberland  mountains  and  Tenn 
essee  river,  with  engagements  at  Fairfield,  Tennessee,  June  27, 
1863;  capture  of  Winchester,  Tennessee,  July  3,  1863;  engage 
ment  at  Cowan  station,  July  3,  1863,  and  engagement  at  Uni 
versity  (on  the  mountain  top),  July  4,  1863.  In  command  of 
the  third  division,  twentieth  army  corps,  in  the  battle  of  Chic- 
amauga,  Tennessee,  September  19  and  20,  1863;  commanding 
the  second  division,  fourth  army  corps,  in  the  battle  of  Mission 
ary  Ridge,  Tennessee,  November  23d  to  25th,  1863;  in  the 
operations  around  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  September  to  De 
cember,  1863;  and  in  the  operations  in  east  Tennessee,  from 
December  1863,  to  March,  1864,  and  the  action  at  Dandridge, 
Tennessee,  January  17,  1864. 

In  general  command  of  the  cavalry  corps,  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  from  April,  1864,  to  April,  1865.  In  immediate 
command  of  the  cavalry  corps,  army  of  the  Potomac,  in  the 
following  battles  and  operations  in  the  Richmond  campaign, 
from  April  to  August,  1864:  The  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
May  5th  to  8th,  1864;  the  battle  of  Todd's  Tavern,  May  5,  1864; 
battle  of  the  Furnaces,  May  6,  1864;  battle  of  Todd's  Tavern, 
No.  2,  May  7,  1864;  capture  of  Spottsylvania  court  house 


GENERAL  SHERIDAN.  287 

(Spottsylvania  court  house  was  captured  on  May  8,  1864,  by 
General  Wilson's  division  of  cavalry,  and  held  for  two  hours), 
May  8,  1864;  expedition  in  rear  of  the  rebel  army,  cutting  the 
Virginia  Central  and  Richmond  &  Fredericksburg  railroads; 
action  at  Beaver  Dam,  May  10,  1864;  battle  of  Yellow  Tavern, 
May  11,  1864;  battle  of  Meadow  Bridges  and  Richmond,  May 
12,  1864;  actions  of  Hanovertown  and  Tolopotomy  creek,  May 
27,  1864;  battle  of  Hawe's  Shop,  May  28,  1864;  battle  of 
Metadequin  Creek, May  30, 1864;  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  May  31, 
and  June  1,  1864;  raid  to  Charlottesville  and  return  to  Jordan's 
point  on  the  James  river,  June  7th  to  28th,  1864,  cutting  the 
Virginia  Central  and  Richmond  &  Fredericksburg  railroads; 
battle  of  Trevillian  Station,  June  11,  1864;  action  of  Mallory's 
ford  cross-roads,  June  12,  1864;  action  of  Tunstall  station,  June 
21,  1864;  skirmish  at  St.  Mary's  church,  June  24,1864;  action 
of  Darbytown,  July  28,  1864;  and  action  of  L3e's  Mills,  July 
30,  1864.  In  command  of  the  middle  military  division  from 
August  7,  1864,  to  May  22,  1865,  and  in  immediate  command  of 
the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  from  August  4,  1864,  to  February 
27,  1865,  in  the  following  battles  and  operations:  Actions  of 
Kernstown  and  Toll  Gate,  August  11,  1864;  action  of  Kable- 
town,  August  26,  1864;  Smithfield  crossing  of  the  Opequan, 
August  29,  1864;  action  of  Berryville,  September  3,  1864;  action 
of  Opequan  Creek,  September  15,  1864;  battle  of  the  Opequan 
September  19,  1864;  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Army,  September 
20,  1864,  for  battle  of  the  Opequan;  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill, 
September  22,  1864;  battle  of  Tom's  Brook,  October  9,1864; 


288  GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

battle  of  Cedar  Creek*  (called  Winchester),  October  19,  1864r 
and  engagement  at  Middletown,  November  12,  1864;  Major-Gen 
eral  U.  S.  Army,  November  8,  1864,  for  Sbenandoah  campaign. 
In  command  of  tbe  cavalry  expedition  from  Winchester  to 
Petersburg,  February  27  to  March  24,  1865,  (known  as 
"The  Winchester  Raid.")  Destroying  the  James  river  and 
Kanawha  canal,  and  cutting  the  Gordonsville  &  Lynchburg, 
Virginia  Central  and  Richmond  &  Fredericksburg  railroads  and 
destroying  many  railroads,  canal  and  river  bridges  and  trestle- 
work,  and  capturing  and  destroying  sixty  canal  boats,  contain 
ing  large  quantities  of  rebel  government  property,  consisting  of 
ordnance  and  ordnance  stores,  clothing,  camp  and  garrison 
equipage,  commissary  stores  and  medical  supplies,  and  destroy 
ing  hundreds  of  army  wagons  and  ambulances  and  several 
factories,  warehouses,  tanneries,  forges  ana  workshops,  used  for 
the  manufacture  of  and  filled  with  military  supplies  of  the 
description  above  enumerated,  and  capturing  eighteen  battle 
flags,  sixteen  hundred  prisoners,  and  two  thousand  one  hundred 
and  forty-three  horses  and  mules,  and  engaged  with  the  enemy 
as  follows:  Action  at  Mount  Crawford,  March  1,  1865; 
battle  of  Waynesborough,  March  2,  1865;  engagements  at 
North  Anna  Bridges  and  Ashland,  March  14th  and  15th, 
1865.  In  general  command  of  the  cavalry,  in  the  Richmond 
campaign  of  1865,  called  also  the  Appomattox  campaign, 
from  March  25th  to  April  9th,  1865,  with  the  following  battles 
and  operations:  Commanding  the  cavalry  corps,  and  in  com- 

*The  thanks  of  Congress  were  tendered,  February  9, 1865,  to  General  Sheridan 
for  the  gallantry,  military  skill  and  courage,  displayed  in  the  brilliant  series  of  vie- 
tories  achieved  by  his  army  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  especially  at  Cedar 
Creek.  Resolutions  of  thanks  similar  to  that  of  Congress  were  also  tendered  to 
General  Sheridan  by  the  legislatures  of  New  York,  Rhode  Island  and  other  states. 


GENEBAL  SHERIDAN.  289 

mand  in  the  battle  of  Dinwiddie  court  house,  Virginia,  March 
31,  1865;  commanding  the  forces  (cavalry  and  infantry)  in  the 
battle  of  Five  Forks,  Virginia,  April  1,  1865;  and  commanding 
the. cavalry  in  the  following  engagements:  Action  at  Scott's 
Corners,  April  2,  1865;  action  at  Amelia  court  house,  April  4, 

1864,  and  Jettersville,  April  5,  1865,  and  commanding  the  forces 
(cavalry  and  infantry)  in   the   battle  of   Sailor's  Creek,  April  6, 

1865,  and  the  cavalry  in  the  combat  of  Farmville,  April  7,  1865; 
battle  of  Appomattox  depot,  April  8th,  and  engagement  in  front 
of  Appomattox   court   house,  April  9,  1865,f  and  in    numerous 
minor  actions  between  February  27th  and   April    9th,  1865,  and 
present   in   command  of    all  the  cavalry  at   the  capitulation  of 
the  insurgent  army  (known  as  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia) 
under  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  at'Appomattox  court  house,  Vir 
ginia,  April  6,  1865.     Marched  in  command  of  forces    (cavalry 
and  infantry)    against  the  army  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,. 
as  far  as  South  Boston,  North  Carolina,  on  the  Dan  river,  April 
24th  to  May  3d,  1865.     In  general  command  of  the  forces  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  May  17th  to  June  3d,  1865,  and  of   the  army 
organized    for    contemplated    operations    against   the  army   of 
General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  who  surrendered   on  the  28th  of   May, 
1865.     In   command  of   the  military  division  of  the  southwest, 
June  3d  to  July  1 7th,  1865,  and  of  the  army  in  Louisiana,  Texas, 

tDuring  this  engagement  a  white  flag  from  the  rebel  lines  arrived  In  front  of 
the  cavalry,  the  bearer  requesting  a  suspension  of  hostilities  pending  negotiations- 
with  General  Grant  for  the  surrender  of  General  Lee's  forces.  General  Sheridan 
immediately  rode  to  Appomattox  court  house,  and  there  met  General  Gordon,  who* 
repeated  the  same  request.  General  Sheridan  replied  that  he  thought  it  very  strange 
that  while  General  Lee  was  negotiating  with  General  Grant  for  the  surrender  of  his 
army,  it  should  have  made,  that  very  morning,  an  attempt  to  break  through  his  lines 
and  make  its  escape,  and  therefore  demanded  some  authorized  assurance  before  he 
would  suspend  hostilities.  This  assurance  was  given  by  General  Gordon,  who  said 
"there  was  no  doubt  of  the  surrender  of  General  Lee's  army."  Hostilities  were  soon 
afterward  suspended,  and  the  surrender  took  place  on  the  arrival  of  General  Grant. 


290  SHERIDAN'S  HORSE. 

Florida,  and  Mississippi,  and  the  army  of  observation  on  the 
Rio  Grande  until  the  troops  composing  these  armies  were  mus 
tered  out  of  service. 

In  command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Gulf,  July  17, 
1865,  to  August  15,  1866;  in  command  of  the  department  of  the 
Gulf,  August  15,  1866,  to  March  11,  1867;  in  command  of  the 
fifth  military  district  (Louisiana  and  Texas),  March  llth  to  Sep 
tember  5th,  1867;  in  command  of  the  department  of  the  Mis 
souri,  September  12,  1867,  to  March  16,  1869;  conducting  the 
winter  campaign  of  1868  and  1869,  against  hostile  Indians,  result 
ing  in  their  defeat  and  surrender.  Lieutenant-General  U.  S. 
Army  March  4,  1869.  Commanding  military  division  of  the 
Missouri  (headquarters  in  Chicago),  since  March  16,  1869, 
Lieutenant-General  of  the  Army,  headquarters  at  Washington, 
D.  C.,  since  December  1,  1883.  During  the  Franco-Prussian  war 
of  1870,  General  Sheridan  was  in  Europe,  at  the  headquarters 
of  the  King  of  Prussia,  and  present  at  the  battles  of  Gravelotte, 
Beaumont  and  Sedan,  and  afterwards  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
German  armies  at  Versailles,  witnessing  many  engagements 
around  Paris,  during  the  siege. 


There  have  been  so  many  statements  made  respecting 
"Sheridan's  horse"  that  considerable  time,  and  no  little  trouble 
and  expense  have  been  given  to  looking  up  the  history  of  that 
remarkable  animal.  It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  of  all  the 


SHERIDAN'S  HORSE. 


291 


staff  and  orderlies  that  set  out  with  General  Sheridan  on  his 
celebrated  ride  "from  Winchester  down"  not  one  was  able  to 
keep  up  with  him,  and  perhaps  there  may  have  entered,  already, 
into  the  minds  of  some  a  wonder  that  the  General  should  have 
been  so  favored  in  high  bred  horse-flesh. 


'  'Here  is  tne  steed  that  saved  the  day 
By  carrying  Sheridan  into  the  fight 
From  Winchester -twenty  miles  away!" 

The  history  of  the  horse  as  given  by  neighbors  of  the 
owner,  is  that  a  Canadian  mare  was  brought  into  St  Clair  county, 
Michigan,  with  foal,  and  when  foaled  proved  to  be  a  thin,  rangy 
black  stud  colt.  The  sire  was  known  to  be  a  full  blooded  fox- 


292  GENERAL  STANLEY. 

hunter  and  the  dam  was  three-quarters  fox-hunter,  therefore 
the  colt  was  near  enough  for  all  practical  purposes  a  thorough 
bred. 

Captain  Archibald  P.  Campbell  raised  a  company  of  cavalry 
(K)  for  the  Second,  and  the  citizens  of  Port  Huron  presented 
him  with  a  horse — the  black  colt,  then  three  years  past  (1861). 
Captain  Campbell  was  not  accustomed  to  horseback  riding, 
and  the  colt  was  too  fiery  for  him.  In  fact,  Campbell  was 
afraid  of  him,  and  very  seldom  rode  him,  but  turned  him  over 
to  the  company  farrier,  who,  on  Colonel  Sheridan's  taking  com 
mand  of  the  regiment,  had  the  old  farrier — John  Ashley — de 
tailed  as  his  headquarters  farrier.  Ashley  took  the  black  colt 
with  him,  and  about  the  time  of  Colonel  Sheridan's  winning  his 
first  star,  the  horse  began  to  develop  into  a  well  rounded  out, 
magnificent  animal.  Sheridan  liked  the  horse,  and  Campbell, 
then  a  Colonel,  liked  Sheridan,  and  so  the  horse  was  given  to 
the  General,  and  was  the  pride  of  the  division,  corps  or  army 
over  whose  destinies  the  master  so  fearlessly  wielded  rein,, 
spurs  and  saber. 

If  we  stop  to  reflect  upon  "what  might  have  been,"  had 
the  horse  lagged  or  fallen  by  the  wayside,  who  shall  say  that 
this  country  does  not  owe  that  animal  a  big  debt  of  gratitude  ? 


GENERAL  STANLEY. 

"Gay  old  Stanley,"  as  his   associates   loved  to  call  him,  was 
a  young  man.     His  record  began  at  Corinth,  under  Grant,  where 


GENERAL    STANLEY.  293 

he  commanded  a  division  in  that  severe  engagement,  the  Second 
Corinth,  and  won  distinction  by  the  brilliancy  of  his  move 
ments. 

He  was  considered  by  many  as  the  best  cavalry  officer  of 
his  day.  He  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1852,  and  served 
with  the  second  United  States  dragoons. 

General  David  S.  Stanley  was  immensely  popular  with  all 
who  were  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  but  his  nature  was 
retired,  and  he  was  not  given  to  crowding  himself  forward  nor 
mingling  with  his  troops  in  that  familiar  way,  sometimes  com 
mon  with  officers  who  courted  popularity;  consequently  he  was 
not  well  known,  and  his  continued  ill  health  during  the  last 
year  of  the  war  was  a  great  disappointment  to  him.  When  he 
took  command  of  Rosecrans's  cavalry,  in  October,  1862,  there 
were  but  about  3,000  mounted  men  in  that  army  and  of  these 
there  were  not  to  exceed  1,500  well  disciplined  cavalrymen. 
But,  under  his  management  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  command 
ing  16,000  as  good  cavalry  as  the  army  could  boast  when  the 
forward  movement  from  Murfreesboro  began  in  June,  1863. 
It  was  often  remarked  at  the  time,  that,  had  Stanley  been  at 
the  head  of  his  command  at  Chicamauga,  the  cavalry  would 
have  had  other  duty  than  guarding  flanks — a  very  important 
and  hazardous  duty,  but  they  were  not  all  needed  for  that  ser 
vice.  Had  Stanley  been  there  to  have  sent  half  of  them  to  the 
enemy's  rear,  as  he  undoubtedly  would  have  done,  when  Thomas 
was  in  such  sore  straits,  or  to  have  attacked  the  enemy  in  front 
of  Thomas,  in  the  flanks,  that  General  would  not  have  lost  so 
heavily,  nor  have  been  so  terribly  pressed  on  all  sides.  But,  un 
fortunately  for  Stanley  and  the  country,  each  brigade  of  cavalry 


294  GENERAL   WILSON. 

was  thrown  on  its  own  resources,  and  was  not  kept  informed 
of  the  movements  of  the  infantry,  and  poor  Stanley,  flat  upon 
his  back  at  Stevenson,  Alabama,  lost  the  grandest  opportunity  of 
his  life. 

And,  so,  discouraged  from  undertaking  further  the  arduous 
duties  of  a  chief  of  cavalry,  he  accepted  an  infantry  corps,  and 
passed  the  remaining  days  of  his  active  service  as  best  he  could 
with  the  fourth  corps,  and  at  the  end  of  the  war  dropped  back 
to  his  colonelcy  in  the  regular  army.  But  he  has  the  best 
wishes  of  every  officer  and  private  who  ever  knew  him.  He 
earned  his  star  in  the  regular  army  long  ago. 


GENERAL    WILSON. 

Major-General  James  H.  Wilson,  of  cavalry  fame,  came 
upon  the  military  horizon  of  the  Western  army  at  a  time  when 
(no  matter  how  brilliantly  flashed  the  career  before  the  eyes  of  a 
grateful,  yet  exacting  nation),  he  was  constantly  hampered  by 
a  lack  of  appreciation  of  that  branch  of  service,  even  among 
military  men.  If  a  commander  of  infantry  suddenly  found 
himself  surrounded  with  more  men  than  he  knew  what  to  do 
with,  and  a  few  supporting  regiments  of  cavalry  chanced  to  be 
hanging  on  his  rear  or  brushing  away  the  obstructions  from  his 
front,  he  treated  them  about  as  the  railroad  contractor  treats  his 
pioneer  corps — gives  them  an  ax  and  a  bundle  of  hay  and  sends 
them  on. 


GENERAL    WILSON.  295 

General  Stanley  had  the  real  military  genius  for  handling 
cavalry,  but  unfortunately  for  him  and  his  country  he  was  a 
sufferer  from  ill  health  and  dropped  back  to  the  less  arduous 
duties  of  an  infantry  corps  commander. 

General  Wilson  had  filled  every  position  assigned  to  him 
with  credit,  and  his  abilities  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Gen 
eral  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  during  the  Tennessee  campaign,  and  he 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  that  distinguished  general  to  a  degree 
that  was  alone  sufficient  guarantee  of  General  Wilson's  ability. 
Yet  General  Wilson  was  never  left  free  to  act  as  he  thought 
proper  when  with  infantry  commanders,  whose  commission 
happened  to  bear  an  older  date,  but  was  ordered  to  send  a  bri 
gade  here  and  there — in  fact,  was  expected  to  be  omnipresent, 
yet  never  allowed  to  sti  ike  in  full  force  where  the  nature  of  the 
country  permitted  such  action,  and  if  mistakes  occurred  Wilson 
and  his  cavalry  were  made  the  scapegoats,  not  by  General 
Thomas,  but  by  generals  who  had  no  confidence  in  cavalry. 

This  is  not  written  as  an  apology  for  General  Wilson.  He 
needs  none.  But  as  an  urgent  reminder  that  General  Wilson 
and  his  cavalry  should  long  ago  have  received  at  the  hands  of 
the  truthful  historian  a  more  careful  hearing  and  a  more  gener 
ous  appreciation. 

While  it  is  true  the  cavalry  force  .of  the  army  of  the  Cum 
berland  was  small  in  numbers,  and  mostly  thrown  together  in 
brigades  not  always  well  balanced  in  point  of  discipline  and 
thorough  organization,  yet  the  hard  duties  and  heroic  struggles 
at  different  periods  of  that  campaign,  compel  the  acknowledg 
ment  that  Wilson's  management  of  the  cavalry  corps  was 
masterly,  and  that  the  results  obtained  were  all  that  could  have 


296  GENERAL    WILSON. 

been  expected.  His  placing  of  Croxton's  brigade  at  a  point 
where  the  enemy  had  the  greatest  hope  of  forcing  a  breach,  at 
Franklin,  and  doubling  back  upon  the  center,  Schofield's  left 
wing,  was  a  wise  move,  and  his  disposition  of  the  other  brigades 
upon  the  extreme  flanks,  fully  justified  General  Thomas's  reliance 
in  the  ability  of  his  chief  of  cavalry. 

General  Wilson  has  been  censured  by  General  Schofield  for 
crossing  his  entire  force  to  the  north  bank  of  the  Harpeth.  But 
without  orders  from  Schofield  it  is  difficult  to  see  what  other 
course  he  should  have  pursued  just  at  that  moment  when  the 
infantry  were  behind  earthworks  and  the  rear  was — who  could 
say  whether  or  not  ? — open  to  the  enemy,  whose  cavalry  at  that 
moment  had  been  retired  from  the  front  and  might  naturally 
be  expected  in  our  rear,  as  at  Columbia  and  Florence.  The  rear 
was  picketed  and  scouted,  and  reporting  for  orders  Wilson  was 
sent  back  across  the  Harpeth;  but  Wilson  knew  his  duties  quite 
as  well  as  his  superior,  and  sending  his  best  known  brigade  to 
hold  the  approaches  to  the  left  flank  on  the  Harpeth,  the  rest  of 
the  corps  was  placed  at  the  weakest  points  up  and  down  the 
river,  and  their  positions  proved  not  merely  points  of  observation 
but  battle  grounds  over  which  some  of  the  fiercest  struggles  of 
the  day  were  witnessed.  And  again  at  Nashville,  what  more 
could  have  been  expected  ?  The  left  flank  of  Hood's  army  was 
turned  by  Wilson's  cavalry,  and  when  the  final  blow  came, 
half  of  Wilson's  cavalry,  under  dashing  Edward  Hatch,  were 
among  the  first  to  clear  the  earthworks,  and,  joined  by  the  other 
half  from  the  extreme  right,  were  by  General  Hatch  hurled 
upon  the  broken  ranks  of  the  enemy  and  captured  more  prisoners 
than  Hatch's  own  numbers. 


GENERAL    WILSON.  297 

From  that  time  on,  whatever  was  done,  was  for  the  most 
part  the  work  of  the  cavalry,  and  Wilson  was  the  head.  The 
raid  through  Alabama  was  a  death  blow  to  the  Confederate 
hopes  in  that  quarter,  and  the  last  battles  of  the  war  were  fought 
by  Wilson's  troops.  Forrest,  Wirt  Adams,  Hill  and  Jeff  Davis 
himself  received  their  quietus  from  " Wilson's  raiders,"  and  Hatch, 
Long,  Lagrange  and  Croxton  were  his  able  lieutenants. 

The  following  is  the  military  record  of  James  H.  Wilson, 
and  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  among  the  youngest  of  our 
officers.  In  fact,  he  was  so  young  that  his  age  was  looked  upon 
by  some  of  the  older  heads  as  an  objection  to  his  being  appointed 
to  so  important  a  command  as  the  cavalry  corps,  army  of  the 
Cumberland.  But  General  George  H.  Thomas  was  not  given 
to  making  mistakes: 

James  H.  Wilson,  born  September  2,  1837,  in  Gallatin 
county,  Illinois. 

MILITARY  HISTORY.  Cadet  at  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  from  July  1,  1855,  to  July  1,  1860,  when  he  was  grad 
uated  and  proirioted  in  the  army  to  'brevet  second  lieutenant 
topographical  engineers,  July  1,  1860,  served  as  assistant  topo 
graphical  engineer  at  the  headquarters  of  the  department  of 
Oregon,  October  3d,  1860,  to  July  14,  1861. 

Served  during  the  rebellion  of  the  seceding  states,  1861-66: 
On  recruiting  second  lieutenant  topographical  engineers,  June 
10, 1861,  service  for  topographical  engineer  company,  September 
3  to  October  14,  1861;  as  chief  topographical  (first  lieutenant, 
topographical  engineers,  September  9,  1861,)  engineer  of  the 
Port  Royal  expeditionary  corps,  October  14,  1861,  to  March 
15,  1862,  and  of  the  department  of  the  south,  March  15  to 


298  GENERAL    WILSON. 

August  19,  1862,  being  engaged  in  various  reconnaissances  andr 
explorations,  and  siege  of  Fort  Pulaski,  Georgia,  February- 
April,  1862,  including  its  bombardment  and  surrender,  April 
10-11,  1862;  in  the  Maryland  campaign  as  acting  aid-de 
camp  to  (brevet  major,  April  11,  1862,  for  gallant  and  meritori 
ous  services  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Pulaski,  Georgia,)  Major- 
General  McClellan,  commanding  the  army  of  the  Potomac,, 
September-October,  1862,  being  engaged  in  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain,  September  14,  1862;  and  battle  of  Antietam,  Septem 
ber  16,  1862;  as  chief  topographical  engineer  of  the  army  of 
the  Tennessee,  October  17, 1862,  to  March  3,  1863,  being  engaged 
in  Major-General  Grant's  flank  movement  to  Oxford,  Mississippi,. 
November-December,  1862;  as  assistant  engineer  (lieutenant 
colonel  staff,  United  States  volunteers,  November  8,  1862,  to 
October  31,  1863,)  and  inspector-general  of  the  army  of 
the  Tennessee  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  March  3  to 
October  31,  1863,  being  engaged  in  the  attempt  to  turn  Vicks 
burg  by  Moon  Lake  and  the  Yazoo  Pass,  March  25-April  20, 
1863;  advance  to  Bruinsburg,  April,  1863;  battle  of  Port  Gibson, 
May  1,  1863;  in  bridging  the  Bayou  Pierre,  May  3,  1863;  action 
of  Jackson,  May  14,  1863;  battle  of  Champion  Hill  (captain 
corps  of  engineers,  May  7,  1863),  May  16,  1863;  combat  of  the 
Big  Black,  May  17, 1863,  and  siege  of  Vicksburg,  May  22-July  4, 
1863;  in  engineer  operations  about  Chattanooga  and  on  expedition 
to  East  Tennessee,  October  31,  1863,  to  February  1,  1864,  (brig 
adier-general  United  States  volunteers,  October  31,  1863,)  being 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  November  23-25,. 
1863,  (brevet  lieutenant-colonel,  November  24,  1863,  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn- 


GENERAL    WILSON.  299 

essee);  pursuit  of  the  enemy  November  26-27,  1863,  and  march 
to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  November  28  to  December  4th, 
1863;  constructing  several  bridges,  particularly  a  trestle  over  the 
Little  Tennessee,  made  in  thirty-two  hours  from  dismantled 
houses;  in  charge  of  the  cavalry  bureau  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
February  1 7,  to  April  7,  1864;  in  the  Richmond  campaign,  in 
command  of  third  cavalry  division,  army  of  the  Potomac,  May  4 
to  August  1,  1864,  being  engaged  in  the  action  of  Craig's  meet 
ing  house,  May  5,  1864;  capture  of  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  May  8, 
1864;  (brevet  colonel  May  5,  1864,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness),  "Sheridan's  raid"  to  Hax- 
all's  Landing  and  returning  to  New  Castle,  May  9-29,  1864,  cut 
ting  the  Virginia  Central  railroad;  action  of  Beaver  Dam,  May  9- 
10,  1864;  battle  of  Yellow  Tavern,  May  11,  1864;  combat  of 
Meadow  Bridge,  May  12,  1864;  action  of  Mechump's  Creek, 
May  31,  1864;  action  of  Ha-we's  Shop,  June  2,  1864;  action  of 
Tolopotomy,  June  2,  1864;  skirmish  of  Long  Bridge,  June  12, 
1864,  and  of  White  Oak  Swamp  June  13,  1864;  raid  to  destroy 
the  Danville  &  South  Side  railroad,  June  20-30,  1864;  partici 
pating  in  the  action  of  Nottoway  court  house,  June  23,  and 
Roanoke  Station,  June  25,  and  combat  of  Stony  Creek,  June  29, 
1864;  and  cavalry  operations  about  Petersburg,  July,  1864;  in 
command  of  third  cavalry  division  in  the  Shenandoah  campaign, 
August  4  to  September  30,  1864;  engaged  in  the  action  of  Sum 
mit  Point  August  21,  1864;  battle  of  Opequan,  September 
19,  1864;  and  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  September  20-27,  1864;  in 
command  of  cavalry  corps  of  the  military  division  of  the 
Mississippi,  October  24,  1864,  to  (brevet  major-general,  United 
States  volunteers,  October  5,  1864,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 


300  GENERAL  WILSON. 

services  during  the  rebellion)  July  28,  1865;  in  Major-General 
Thomas's  Tennessee  campaign,  November-December,  1864,  being 
engaged  in  driving  the  rebel  cavalry  across  the  Harpeth  river 
during  the  battle  of  Franklin,  November  30,  1864;  battle  of 
Nashville,  December  15-16,  1864,  and  pursuit  of  General  Hood 
to  the  Tennessee  river,  December,  1864;.  (brevet  brigadier-gen 
eral  United  States  army,  March  13,  1865,  for  gallant  and  meri 
torious  services  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,)  in  command 
of  cavalry  expedition  into  Alabama  and  Georgia,  March  2-22  to 
April  20,  1865,  being  engaged  in  the  action  of  Ebenezer 
Church,  April  1,  1865;  assault  and  capture  of  Selma,  with  large 
numbers  of  prisoners  and  stores  (brevet  major-general,  United 
States  army,  March  13,  1865,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
in  the  capture  of  Selma,  Alabama),  April  2,  1865;  surrender  of 
Montgomery,  April  12,  1865;  capture  of  Columbus,  with  great 
supplies  and  military  establishments,  April  16,  1865;  capitula 
tion  of  Macon,  April  20,  1865,  having  in  this  brief  campaign  of 
twenty-eight  days  (major-general  United  States  volunteers,  April 
20,  1865,)  captured  five  fortified  cities,  twenty-three  stand  of 
colors,  288  guns,  and  6,820  prisoners,  and  finally  on  May  10, 
1865,  adding  Jefferson  Davis,  the  rebel  president,  to  the  cap 
tures  made  by  a  detachment  of  his  forces;  in  command  of  the 
department  of  Georgia,  July  28  to  October  7,  1865;  and  of 
district  of  Columbus,  October  7,  1865,  to  January  8,  1866;  on 
leave  of  absence,  December  19,  1865,  to  (mustered  out  of  vol 
unteer  service,  January  8,  1866,)  April  26,  1866;  as  assistant 
engineer  on  the  defenses  of  the  Delaware  river  and  bay,  April 
26  to  July  31,  1866;  as  superintending  engineer  of  the  survey  of 
(lieutenant-colonel,  thirty-fifth  infantry,  July  28,  1866,)  Rock  and 


GENERAL  HINTY.  301 

Illinois   rivers,   July   31,    1866,   to   December  31,  1870,  and  of 

improvement  of  Des  Moines  and  Illinois  rapids  of  the   Mississ 
ippi,  August  3,  1866,  to  December  31,  1870. 


GENERAL    ROBERT    H.    G.    MINTY. 

Although  General  Minty  was  better  known  as  colonel  of 
the  fourth  Michigan  cavalry,  the  fact  that  he  was,  during  the 
period  of  our  organization,  senior  major  of  the  second  Michigan 
cavalry,  and  still  refers  with  pride  to  his  connection  with  the 
Second,  warrants  us  in  claiming  him  as  a  member  of  the  Second. 

He  was  a  popular  officer,  wherever  he  served,  and  though 
his  stars  were  won  long  before  he  was  breveted  major-general 
of  volunteers,  recognition  of  his  valuable  services  came  very 
tardily.  Had  it  not  been  so,  the  movements  of  the  cavalry  be 
longing  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  would  undoubtedly 
have  attracted  more  attention,  and  the  blows  struck  by  that  arm 
of  the  service  would  have  been  more  decided  in  their  effect. 
Until  the  last  six  months  of  the  war,  the  moment  an  officer  de 
veloped  any  special  fitness  as  a  cavalry  commander  he  was 
wanted  elsewhere. 

Had  Colonel  Minty  been  made  a  brigadier  from  the  moment 
of  his  first  success  as  a  brigade  commander  in  the  Tennessee 
campaign,  he  would  have  been  in  a  position  at  Chicamauga,  by 
his  rank,  to  have  struck  a  blow  with  the  cavalry  that  would  have 
changed  the  map  of  that  fierce  struggle,  from  a  position  of  de 
fense  and  dread  uncertainty  to  one  of  bold  offensiveness,  unless 


302  GENERAL   MINTY. 

deprived  of  power  by  too  much  interference  from  his  superiors; 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  abilities  of  the  corps  and  di 
vision  commanders  of  cavalry,  it  was  evident  that  Rosecrans 
lacked  confidence  in  his  acting  chief  of  cavalry,  and  he  was 
practically  ignored. 

Without  following  Colonel  Minty  in  his  career  as  senior 
major  of  the  Second,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third,  and  col 
onel  of  the  Fourth,  it  is  not  saying  too  much  to  assert  that  in 
whatever  position  he  was  placed,  every  duty  was  discharged  with 
ability,  courage  and  fidelity. 

At  Stone  River,  Shelbyville,  and  the  movements  in  Tennes 
see,  he  was  everywhere  the  active  leader,  prompt  in  carrying  out 
the  orders  of  his  superiors,  and  always  struck  the  enemy  in  their 
weakest  points. 

At  Chicamauga  his  services  on  our  left  gave  timely  warn 
ing  of  Bragg's  plans  against  Chattanooga,  and  without  his  ser 
vices  in  the  vicinity  of  Reed's  Bridge  and  towards  Ringgold, 
Rosecrans's  army  would  never  have  had  the  road  to  Chattanooga 
open  to  him  after  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September. 

And  more  than  that  ;  officers  of  Minty's  brigade  have  as 
serted,  that,  had  Rosecrans  listened  to  Minty  when  first  the  news 
of  large  bodies  of  troops  concentrating  on  the  left  was  brought 
to  his  notice,  Roseci  ans's  army  would  have  had  plenty  of  time  to 
concentrate  nearer  Chattanooga,  and  fought  at  a  greater  advan 
tage,  with  less  loss  to  our  army. 

And  that  statement  was  undoubtedly  true.  For  two  days 
previous  to  the  battle  of  the  19th  and  20th,  Minty  and  Wilder, 
each  with  a  brigade  of  as  good  men  as  were  ever  seen  in  any 
army,  had  had  frequent  severe  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  thirty 


GENERAL    MINTY.  303 

to  forty  miles  from  Rosecrans's  right,  and  the  opportunities  for 
observation  were  certainly  better  than  any  other  which  Rose- 
crans  had  at  his  command,  and  yet  the  reports  that  were  frequent 
ly  sent  in  to  headquarters  of  large  numbers  of  the  enemy 
"moving  from  the  northeast,  east  and  southeast  towards  Chat 
tanooga  "  were  apparently  ignored. 

Though  Minty  lived  to  see  his  statements  borne  out  by  later 
developments,  it  was  poor  satisfaction  for  him,  and  did  not 
atone  for  the  blunders  of  that  campaign,  or  the  lives  that  might 
have  been  saved. 

In  the  movements  which  followed  to  the  close  of  the  war 
Minty  figured  actively,  and  at  last  was  breveted  brigadier-gen 
eral,  and  at  the  taking  of  Selma  was  among  the  first  to  scale  the 
works,  and  was  then  breveted  major-general.  He  figured  con 
spicuously  in  the  grand  closing  up  scenes  of  the  rebellion  with 
Wilson,  Hatch,  Croxton  and  Long. 

Since  the  war  General  Minty  has  been  prominently  con 
nected  with  railroad  affairs,  and  is  at  this  writing  with  the  Union 
Pacific. 


INCIDENTS    CONNECTED    WITH     OUR    IMMEDIATE 

SERVICE. 


[Correspondence  Chicago  Paper •,  November ',  1864.] 
I  have  witnessed  many  fields  of  desperate  strife  during 
the  rebellion,  but  among  these  sanguinary  contests,  I  have 
never  seen  anything  that  would  compare  with  the  cool,  stub 
born  and  unflinching  stand  made  by  the  second  Michigan 
cavalry,  on  the  30th  of  November,  in  the  beechwood  .forest, 
about  four  miles  from  the  town  of  Franklin.  This  regiment 
is  armed  with  the  Spencer  carbine,  a  seven-shooter,  regarded 
as  being  the  most  effective  cavalry  arm  in  the  service,  and 
the  regiment  is  known  as  a  part  of  the  dashing  brigade  of 
General  Croxton,  of  Kentucky.  Along  the  Lewisburg  pike- 
road,  leading  to  Franklin,  it  was  learned  that  three  brigades 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry  were  moving  with  the  view  of  striking 
the  town  of  Franklin  upon  the  left,  at  the  moment  that  Hood, 
with  his  entire  army,  should  be  engaged  in  an  attack  on  our 
front  and  right,  and  it  was  across  this  road  that  the  second 
Michigan,  with  instructions  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  formed 


305 

its  line  of  battle.  The  regiment  numbered  about  450  men. 
The  Confederate  cavalry  was  composed  of  Texas,  Georgia 
and  Louisiana  cavalry,  under  the  command  of  General  Forrest, 
who  was  recognized  as  the  ablest  Confederate  cavalry  officer 
in  the  service.  We  were  standing  on  an  elevation,  a  little 
to  the  rear  and  left  of  this  Michigan  regiment,  which  gave  us 
a  full  and  complete  view  of  the  battle.  We  saw  them  slide 
from  their  saddles  and  rush  forward  a  few  rods  to  the  acclivity 
of  a  gentle  slope  that  shielded  their  horses  from  the  fire  of  the 
enemy,  and  here  they  fell  upon  their  faces,  hugging  the  ground 
so  closely  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  see 
them,  while  their  commander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  seated 


LIEUTENANT- COLONEL    BENJAMIN    SMITH. 

upon  a  log  in  close  proximity  to  his  crouching  line,  with  his- 
bridle  rein  strung  upon  his  arm,  seemed  to  be  engaged  in 
trying  to  light  his  pipe.  Through  the  woods,  along  their  front, 
is  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  the 
heavy  gray  columns  of  the  enemy  moving  slowly  but  confi 
dently  forward.  Presently  they  halted,  when  a  column  of 
Louisiana  cavalry,  apparently  about  2,000  strong,  swung  round 


306  CROXTON'S  BRIGADE. 

by  the  left,  dismounted,  and  forming  in  line  of  battle,  came 
rushing  forward,  pouring  from  their  Enfield  rifles  volley  after 
volley,  while  the  woods  resounded  with  the  wild  scream  of 
the  Texas  ranger.  Turning  our  face  for  a  moment  to  the 
right  we  discovered  General  Croxton  sitting  upon  his  horse  a 
few  feet  from  us,  with  one  leg  thrown  over  the  pommel  of  his 
saddle,  looking  at  the  scene.  Thinking  that  he  had  not  seen 
the  heavy  line  of  the  enemy  that  was  now  moving  up,  and 
partially  hid  from  view  by  an  undulating  swell  of  the  ground, 
we  exclaimed,  "General,  those  men  will  be  annihilated."  Turn 
ing  his  head  slowly  toward  us  and  taking  us  to  be  a  resident 
of  the  country,  he  observed,  "Don't  be  alarmed,  my  Tennessee 
friend,  those  are  my  whitefish  boys;  you'll  hear  them  speak 
in  a  minute  or  two."  He  had  scarcely  finished  speaking  when 
Michigan  arose  to  her  knees,  and,  in  that  praying  position 
poured  into  the  enemy  a  sheet  of  fire  which  could  be  hurled 
from  no  other  arm  than  the  Spencer  carbine.  For  a  full  min 
ute  an  incessant  stream  of  fire  poured  from  the  muzzles  of 
those  carbines,  drifting  upon  the  heavy  columns  of  the 
enemy  a  sheety  spray  of  lead,  such  as  no  human  power  could 
resist,  halting,  then  staggering  the  advance.  The  line  wavered 
for  a  moment,  and  then,  under  a  rallying  shout,  it  bounded 
forward  a  few  feet  against  the  storm  of  leaden  hail.  Again 
it  halted,  broke  and  fled.  For  nearly  two  hours  column  after 
column  was  hurled  upon  that  Michigan  regiment,  and  each  in 
its  turn  was  driven  back  with  terrible  slaughter.  At  length 
there  was  a  pause;  silence  broken  only  by  the  fitful  rustling 
of  the  forest  leaf.  In  the  distance  the  enemy  could  be  seen 
dismounting  and  massing  columns  for  another  charge — one 


BATTLE  OF  FRANKLIN.  307 

that  would  trample  beneath  its  feet  the  power  that  had  so 
stubbornly  resisted  their  advance.  We  turned  to  point  them 
out  to  General  Croxton,  but  he  was  gone.  Onward  came  that 
black  mass  of  the  enemy,  flaunting  their  banners  with  mad 
dened  desperation,  and  again  did  Michigan  empty  her  carbines. 
Then  came  the  ringing  shout  of  their  commander:  "Up, 
Michigan,  right  about,  double  quick,  mount."  Now  was  the 
moment  of  peril — the  moment  of  danger.  Not  less  than  four 
thousand  rifles  were  ready  to  sweep  away  the  line  when  it 
rose  from  its  leafy  couch,  but  at  the  very  instant  that  the 
command  was  given  to  fall  back,  the  eighth  Iowa  cavalry, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Dorr,  dashed  through  a  thicket 
and  struck  the  enemy  upon  the  right  flank  with  an  enfilading 
fire  that  rolled  it  up  into  a  mass  of  confusion.  Amazed  and 
bewildered,  the  rebels  directed  their  glance  for  a  moment  in 
the  direction  of  this  unexpected  attack,  and  in  that  moment 
Michigan  was  in  the  saddle  arid  all  was  safe. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  accounts  of  the  desperate  battle 
of  Franklin  that  has  been  given  the  writer  was  related  after 
eighteen  years  by  a  lady  who  was  present — the  young  wife  of  a 
railroad  engineer — a  Mrs.  Carrie  Snyder,  at  this  writing  a  resi 
dent  of  Indianapolis. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  battle  did  not  begin  until 
after  three  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of  November  30,  and  there- 


308  BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

fore  could  not  have  lasted  more  than  three  or  four  hours,  and  in 
that  time  nearly  8,000  men  were  placed  hors  de  combat,  many  of 
them  having  fought  their  last  battle,  it  will  at  once  be  seen  that 
its  desperateness  was  unexcelled  by  any  other  battle  of  the  war. 

General  Hood,  in  his  "Advance  and  Retreat,"  takes  occa 
sion  to  anathematize  General  Sherman  for  firing  upon  Atlanta,, 
ordering  the  people  out  of  the  city,  etc.,  and  says,  in  speaking  of 
the  battle  of  Franklin,  in  substance:  "The  enemy  took  refuge 
in  the  town  where  he  knew  we  could  not  or  would  not  use  our 
artillery  against  him,"  intimating  thereby  that  he  (Hood)  did 
not  use  any  artillery  in  that  engagement. 

Every  Federal  soldier  knows  this  is  absurd,  and  anyone 
visiting  the  town  after  the  battle  could  plainly  trace  the  course 
of  solid  shot  and  shell  through  dwellings,  cutting  wooden  pillars, 
with  the  slivers  plainly  showing  that  the  shots  came  from  the 
south,  and  were  fired  at  our  army,  at  the  town.  And  it  is  well 
known  that  Fort  Granger  was  high  enough  above  the  town  to 
enable  our  gunners  to  fire  over,  and  that  what  little  field  of 
artillery  the  Federals  used  stood  either  on  the  bluff  overlooking 
the  city,  or  at  the  front,  south  of  the  city,  and  could  not  there 
fore  hnve  been  toward  the  city. 

General  Schofield  would  not  have  taken  up  his  position  at 
the  south  of  Franklin  had  he  not  been  compelled  to  or  abandon 
all  his  trains,  ambulances,  sick,  etc.,  together  with  all  hi& 
artillery,  and  probably  the  greater  part  of  his  army  would  have 
been  captured  before  they  could  have  crossed  the  Harpeth  if 
they  had  not  turned  at  bay;  therefore  Schofield  did  the  only 
thing  he  could  have  done,  fight,  without  regard  to  the  possible 
destruction  of  a  little  city  of  three  or  four  thousand — mostly  of 
very  doubtful  loyalty. 


BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN.  309 

Mrs.  Snyder  heard  the  first  shot,  and  as  it  came  crashing 
through  the  town  near  where  she  stood  on  the  porch,  and  killed 
a  Federal  on  the  common  near  the  house,  she  could  not  be  mis 
taken. 

"I  had  been  sitting  on  the  back  porch  playing  at  back 
gammon  with  Mrs.  Rainney,  as  was  our  custom  after  dinner.  A 
few  shots  from  the  infantry  had  been  heard;  then,  as  it  became 
quiet,  I  began  to  think  there  would  be  no  fight  after  all. 
Young  and  foolish  thing  that  I  was,  I  began  to  fear  there  would 
be  no  fight.  I  wanted  to  see  a  battle,  or  hear  one;  but  I  got 
enough  of  it,  sooner  than  I  expected.  We  kept  on  playing 
backgammon  until  about  three  o'clock,  then  the  firing  began  to 
get  thicker  and  sounded  more  like  a  snapping  roar  than  any 
thing  I  could  otherwise  describe.  We  got  up  and  walked  about 
the  house  and  yard;  bullets  occasionally  whistled  over  our  heads, 
We  did  not  fear  them  much  if  we  had  the  brick  house  between 
us,  but  presently  a  cannon  ball  or  shell  came  screeching  over  the 
house  from  the  Confederate  side.  I  think  I  grew  short  quicker 
than  anything  you  ever  saw.  Oh — my!  but  I  just  thought  I 
was  hit  sure.  What  did  I  do  ?  Well  you'd  better  believe  I 
got  down  low  and  wasn't  long  in  following  the  old  folks  into 
the  cellar.  Then  the  noise  began  in  dead  earnest.  I  hadn't 
seen  anything,  but  I  had  heard  more  than  I  wanted  to.  I  wanted 
them  to  quit  right  off,  but  they  wouldn't;  they  just  kept  up  a 
roar,  and  rumble,  and  screeching  that  fairly  stopped  my  heart 
from  beating.  We  thought,  down  there  in  that  cellar,  that  a 
shell  would  come  through  those  walls,  explode  inside  of  the 
house  and  blow  us  all  into  'Kingdom  come,'  the  next  minute. 
Just  think  of  us  three  women  and  one  old  man  curled  up  on  that 


310  BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

coal  bin,  in  that  dark  cellar,  from  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
until  four  o'clock  in  the  morning— no  light,  no  fire,  no  sleep, 
and  the  old  lady  bewailing  the  fact  that  we  had  not  caught  up 
some  bedding  and  brought  down  with  us.  She  thought  more  of 
those  old  quilts  than  she  appeared  to  think  of  our  lives  and  want 
ed  us  to  go  up  stairs  and  get  them.  Not  much.  There  had 
been  rumors  among  the  special  friends  of  the  Confederates  that 
if  the  Federals  fell  back  they  had  said  they  would  burn  Franklin. 
There  was  a  young  lady  of  our  party  whose  friends  were  in  the 
Southern  army  and  she  had  given  this  report  circulation.  Sud 
denly  a  bright  light  turned  darkness  into  day  and  her  fears 
were  apparently  about  t^o  be  realized.  'Fire!'  she  screamed. 
There,  what  did  I  tell  you?  Now  we've  escaped  the  battle  to 
be  burned  alive  in  this  horrid  old  cellar.  Oh,  my  God,  what 
will  become  of  us!' 

"It  seems  the  Federal  army  had  thought  best  to  keep  up 
the  appearance  of  fright  or  great  haste  in  their  evacuation  (for 
Schofield  evidently  intended  tD  draw  Hood  on  to  Nashville),  and 
had  set  lire  to  the  government  stables,  in  which  there  was  noth 
ing  left  but  a  few  tons  of  hay  and  some  worthless  saddles, 
harness,  etc.  That  was  the  only  building  destroyed,  unless  by 
accident,  or  if  in  the  way. 

"Then  the  firing  had  entirely  ceased  and  steps  were  heard 
over  head,  and  Mr.  R.,  lifting  the  trap  door,  calls  out  'Who's 
there — friends  ?'  We  went  up  out  of  our  dismal  prison,  with- 
limbs  cramped,  and  fairly  shaking,  as  in  fact  we  had  been  all 
night,  and  Confederate  soldiers  told  us  they  'had  the  town,  and 
the  Yanks  are  gone.'  So  we  began  to  move  about  more  freely, 
but  what  do  you  suppose  were  my  feelings  as  I  thought  I  was 


BATTLE     OF    FRANKLIN.  311 

among  the  enemy,  cut  off;  .did  not  know  where  my  husband  was 
nor  how  long  I  must  remain  where  I  felt  that  I  must  keep  my 
mouth  shut  and  no  sympathizing  ear  to  pour  my  troubles  into  ? 
"Well,  in  the  morning  we  went  out  upon  the  battle  field, 
and  O,  horror  upon  horrors!  what  a  sight.  God  forgive 
me  for  ever  wishing  to  see  or  hear  a  battle.  They  said 
that  beside  the  wounded  the  Federals  had  carried  away  in 
their  ambulances,  there  were  over  6,000  dead  and  wounded 
soldiers — blue  and  gray — all  mixed  up  together;  you  had  to 
look  twice  as  you  picked  your  way  among  the  bodies  to  see 
which  were  dead  and  which  were  alive  and  often  a  dead  man 
would  be  lying  partly  on  a  live  one,  or  the  reverse — and  the 
groans;  the  sickening  smell  of  blood!  That  sight  and  the 
sounds  I  then  heard  were  with  me  in  my  dreams  for  months* 
startling  me  with  their  horrid  nightmare  vision.  I  noticed 
while  wandering  along  the  earthworks  that  all  or  nearly  all  "of 
the  Union  soldiers  were  shot  in  the  foreheads,  and  I  think  any 
general  that  would  order  men  to  march  across  such  an  open 
field  to  drive  men,  protected  by  such  an  earthwork  as  that, 
must  have  been  a  heartless  wretch.  They  came  up  in  the  very 
worst  place  they  could  have  come,  for  them  (the  Confederates), 
and  ought  to  have  known  what  the  result  would  have  been- 
There  were  twelve  or  thirteen  of  Hood's  best  generals  dead  on 
the  Union  breastworks,  and  in  front  the  ground  was  covered 
with  bodies,  and  pools  of  blood  that  it  was  no  fiction  to  call 
'fields  of  gore.'  The  cotton  in  the  old  cotton  gin  was  shot  out 
all  over  the  ground  and  looked  as  if  it  had  been  scattered  there 
by  some  designing  hand,  and  the  small  grove  of  locusts  to  the 
right  of  the  Carter's  creek  pike  was  cut  off  by  bullets  as  clean 


312  BATTLE    OP    FRANKLIN. 

as  if  cut  by  a  knife.  Mr.  Carter's  son  (a  Confederate  soldier) 
was  found  dead  in  his  own  father's  yard  next  morning.  The 
family  had  stayed  in  the  cellar  all  through  the  fight,  and  all 
night.  Our  soldiers  had  all  been  stripped  of  everything  but  their 
shirts  and  drawers;  but  the  Confederate  soldiers  could  not  be 
blamed  much  for  that,  for  they  were  half  clothed,  half  bare 
foot  and  many  of  them  bareheaded;  but  I  saw  one  thing  I  thought 
contemptible.  A  fine  looking  Union  soldier  had  been  stripped 
of  all  but  his  shirt  and  drawers.  He  was  lying  off  by  himself  at 
the  roadside  near  the  depot.  He  was  apparently  an  officer. 
His  shirt  was  fine  flannel.  'H'yar,'  says  a  big  Confederate,  calling 
to  some  of  his  men — 'bx>ys,  h'yar's  a  mighty  fine  shut  on  this 
ere  dead  Yank'  (giving  him  a  kick).  I  thought  it  was  bad  enough 
to  strip  him  of  hat,  coat,  pants,  boots  and  socks;  they  might  at 
least  give  him  a  single  garment  to  bury  him  in.  When  I  went 
past  one  of  their  hospitals  there  were  several  wagon  loads  of 
limbs  in  a  pile  that  had  been  amputated. 

"It  was  several  days  before  they  knew  that  I  was  a  northern 
woman,  but  when  they  did  they  seemed  to  respect  my  helpless 
condition  and  treated  me  kindly.  And  I  shall  never  forget  one 
of  the  men,  a  nurse  and  cook  for  the  wounded — a  Mr.  Hicks, 
from  Mississippi.  He  had  no  confidence  in  Hood's  forward 
movement,  and  tried  to  comfort  me  as  we  walked  among  the 
flowers,  and  talked  in  whispered  words.  'Be  comforted,'  said 
he;  'it  is  only  for  a  few  days,  and  you  will  be  among  your 
friends  again.  This  cannot  last.'  And  sure  enough,  sooner 
than  I  thought,  the  fierce  cannonading  eighteen  miles  away,  at 
Nashville,  told  me  that  something  would  happen  soon.  I  over 
heard  an  officer  say,  'We  are  going  to  cut  the  bridge.'  Then  I 


BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN.  313 

<knew  that  the  Confederates  were  falling  back.  And  there  th?y 
came.  Barefoot;  bareheaded;  half  of  them  without  guns;  run 
ning;  and  as  the  rear  guard  of  the  Confederates  passed  through 
and  scattering  shots  were  heard,  I  jumped  to  my  feet  and  went 
out.  I  could  stand  it  no  longer.  Among  the  first  men  to  enter 
town  were  some  railroad  men  that  I  knew,  and  I  rushed  out  and 
caught  them  in  my  arms.  I  was  a  prisoner  no  longer.  I  expect 
I  acted  like  a  crazy  woman.  But  do  you  wonder  at  it  ?" 

• 

WHAT    SERGEANT    MOODY    SAYS. 

Sergeant  W.  D.  Moody,  of  company  E,  remembers  vividly 
the  battle  of  Franklin  and  corrects  a  statement  made  elsewhere 
that  our  forces  abandoned  Franklin  and  its  approaches  by 
twelve  or  even  three  o'clock  A.  M.  He  says:  "Our  company,  E, 
second  Michigan  cavalry,  was  stationed  along  the  bank  of  the 
river  from  Fort  Granger,  south  to  the  stone  abutments  of  the 
old  burnt  bridge,  east  of  the  city.  The  banks  along  on  the  east 
side,  you  remember,  were  high — perhaps  thirty  feet,  and  the 
opposite  banks  between  the  river  and  the  railroad  were  low, 
rising  gradually  from  the  water's  edge.  As  we  stood  there  or 
marched  quietly  up  and  down  along  the  bank,  the  Johnnies 
came  down  on  the  other  side,  built  fires,  got  water  from  the 
river,  gathered  around  the  fires,  cooked,  chatted  and  talked 
about  the  'Yanks,'  polishing  them  off  occasionally  in  good 
style,  and  the  wags  of  the  crowds  making  some  good  hits,  and 
some  expressions  that  sounded  very  _  droll  to  us  northerners. 
We  could  have  pitched  a  biscuit  among  them  or  "murdered" 
numbers  of  them,  for  the  stream  was  narrow  just  there,  though 
xleep,  forming  a  barrier  that  no  one  cared  to  cross.  But  they 


314  BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

were  not  apparently  aware  of  our  presence,  though  we  made  no- 
special  effort  to  conceal  the  fact.  During  the  night  we  heard  a, 
noise  at  our  left  and  a  few  of  us  went  to  reconnoiter.  We  came 
down  to  the  ford  where  we  had  such  a  warm  brush  in  the  after 
noon,  and  stopping  on  low  ground,  we  could  count  against  the- 
sky  until  fifty  mounted  men  had  passed  down  the  bank  and 
over  the  ford  to  the  Confederate  side.  What  did  this  mean  T 
Surely  there  should  be  no  Confederates  on  our  side  at  that  hour; 
and  where  were  our  pickets  that  should  be  further  to  the  left? 
We  reported  to  General  Croxton.  Inquiry  revealed  the  fact 
that  a  company  of  cavalry  from  a  comparatively  new  regiment 
had  been  sent  to  our  left;  but  where  were  they  ?  A  search  was 
made  and  the  bold  soldiers  were  found  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
back  of  the  ford,  in  camp,  asleep,  and  no  pickets  out.  The  cap 
tain  was  put  under  arrest  (he  might  have  been  shot  according 
to  strict  military  rules),  and  the  company,  after  a  sharp  repri 
mand  and  fright,  were  sent  to  the  ford,  and  a  sergeant's  squad  of 
some  older  regiment  sent  to  assist  them.  The  company  of  Con 
federates  were  supposed  to  belong  to  a  party  that  were  driven' 
back  and  cut  off  by  General  Long,  on  the  extreme  lett,  in  the 
afternoon.  At  sunrise  I  was  standing  by  the  stone  abutments 
when  some  Confederates  again  came  down  to  the  water  to  wash 
and  make  coffee,  when  they  discovered  us  for  the  first  time. 
They  were  staggered  a  little  at  first,  but  as  they  saw  we  sat  on 
the  stones  with  our  guns  in  our  laps,  not  offering  to  shoot,  they 
took  in  the  situation,  cooled  down  and  said — 'Hello,  boys!' 

"'Hello!' 

"  'What  you  doing  there?  thought  you  had  skedaddled.' 

"  'O  no,  we  are  guarding  this  ford  and  stream.' 

"  'Been  there  all  night  ?' 

'"Yes;  our    command  is  close  by,  just  over  the  hill.' 


BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN.  315 

"But  in  less  than  five  minutes  we  were  ordered  away  and 
as  we  joined  the  rear  guard,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  back,  we  saw 
the  Confederate  advance  guard,  mounted,  come  up  where  we 
had  stood,  and  watch  our  movements,  but  not  apparently  caring- 
to  push  us." 


A  pitiful  voice  was  heard  outside  the  breastworks  after  dark 
at  Franklin,  calling:  "For  the  love  of  God  help  me;  roll  this 
horse  off  me."  Our  men  had  their  hands  full  with  calls  upon- 
their  sympathy,  but  at  last  one  said,  "I  can't  stand  that  any 
longer,  I  am  going  out  there  and  see  if  I  can  help  that  poor 
devil."  He  found  him  badly  wounded,  a  Major  Knox,  of  the 
eighth  Tennessee  (Confederate),  and  he  was  pinioned  to  the 
earth  by  his  fallen  horse.  The  horse  was  rolled  off,  regard 
less  of  the  desultory  firing  all  along  the  line,  and  the  Major 
brought  inside  our  line  and  made  as  comfortable  as  possible, 
with  stray  blankets,  of  which  there  were  many.  A  cup  of 
water  revived  him  and  he  became  communicative.  He  said, 
"I  can't  live  till  morning,  and  I  don't  mind  saying  to  you  that 
our  boys  have  been  greatly  deceived  as  to  the  kingl  of  forces 
here.  There  has  been  some  kind  of  a  quarrel  or  division 
among  our  officers.  Last  night  General  Hood  called  in  all  the 
regimental  commanders  to  headquarters.  I  was  one  of  them, 
and  he  said,  'There  are  eight  or  ten  thousand  Yankee  conscripta 
down  there  by  the  river.  Go,  take  them;  they  are  yours,  and 
after  that  we  have  only  to  walk  into  Nashville  and  take  pos 
session  of  all  the  vast  stores  that  have  been  accumulating  so 


316  •  BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

long.'  *  *  *  *  "My  God!"  said  the  dying  Major, 
"if  Yankee  conscripts  fight  like  this,  what  may  we  expect  from 
Thomas's  veterans?" 

A    HOBBID    SCENE. 

Under  the  above  heading  a  southern  paper,  The  Meridian 
Clarion,  published  an  account  of  the  night  of  horrors  on  the 
battle  field  of  Franklin,  written  by  a  Confederate  artilleryman. 
If  true,  it  certainly  does  not  speak  well  for  Mr.  Hood's  human 
ity;  for  no  good  general  would  ever  permit  so  grave  an 
offense  to  escape  his  notice  and  immediate  disapproval.  There 
was  plenty  of  time  for  the  removal  of  all  helpless  heroes  of 
both  armies  that  had  offered  up  their  lives  for  a  principle. 

"That  was  a  horrid  scene,  on  the  night  of  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  at  ten  o'clock,  when  our  battery  came  upon  the  field 
and  was  ordered  to  a  point  near  the  enemy's  (the  Federal) 
works.  With  horses  at  full  speed,  the  twelve  pounder  Napo 
leons,  with  their  heavy  carriages,  were  hurried  over  the  bodies 
of  the  wounded  and  slain.  Skulls  and  bones  were  crushed  and 
horses'  hoofs  planted  in  faces  and  breasts  of  the  helpless  fallen 
and  dead.  Agonizing  shrieks  came  up  on  every  hand.  The 
poor  wretches  shrieked  in  vain;  and  then,  when  the  trenches 
were  reached,  what  a  scene!  The  dead  and  wounded  filled  the 
ditch  and  wounded  soldiers  were  strangled  and  drowned  in  the 
blood  of  those  who  had  fallen  upon  them." 

The  fallen,  in  front  of  the  earthworks,  were  nearly  all 
Confederates.  Those  behind  the  earthworks,  or  "in  the 
trenches"  were  Federals. 


OUR    BATTERY    AT    SHIIOH.  317 

Although  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  was  at  New  Madrid 
when  the  battle  of  Pittsburgh  Landing  was  fought,  our  battery, 
the  second  battery,  as  it  was  first  known,  and  later  battery  B, 
raised  at  the  same  time,  and  designed  by  the  governor  to  accom 
pany  us,  had  been  dispatched  to  the  Tennessee  and  arrived  just 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  desperate  fighting  between  Shiloh 
church  and  Pittsburgh  Landing. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason  our  troops  had  settled 
with  a  feeling  of  security  that  was  not  warranted  by  their 
surroundings.  Grant  had,  indeed,  won  the  two  battles,  Forts 
Donelson  and  Henry,  and  had  reinforcements  under  Buell 
approaching  rapidly  from  the  east;  but,  with  Albert  Sydney  . 
Johnston  and  Beauregard  at  Corinth,  twenty  miles  away,  and 
an  impassable  river  in  his  (Grant's)  rear,  the  feeling  of  security 
on  the  part  of  Grant,  Sherman,  Prentiss  and  McClernand  was 
unaccountable.  Their  three  divisions  were  pushed  out  on  the 
Corinth  road  nearly  to  the  Shiloh  church,  two  miles,  and  there  for 
three  weeks  they  lay,  without  so  much  as  surrounding  their 
camp  with  intrenchments  or  abatis.  Even  their  chain  guard 
was  not  strong,  and  the  wonder  is  that  the  whole  line  of  raw 
troops  at  the  front  were  not  captured  along  with  Prentiss  and 
his  division. 

Grant's  headquarters  were  at  Savannah,  three  miles  down 
the  river.  He  arrived  on  the  scene  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  set  to  work  repairing  the  blunders  of  the  previous  three 
weeks.  Fortunately  for  our  cause,  the  material  of  Sherman's  and 
McClernand's  divisions  was  of  the  stubborn  sort,  and  though 
greatly  outnumbered,  every  inch  of  the  ground  was  contested, 
though  Stuart  was  cut  off  and  fought  without  communicating 
with  Grant. 


318  THE    GLASGOW  COLLISION. 

In  front  of  Sherman's  division  Captain  W.  H.  Ross,  battery 
B,  was  sweeping  down  the  well  formed  and  skillfully  handled 
troops  of  Johnston,  but  they  were  soon  compelled  to  take  up  a 
new  position  in  rear  of  Sherman's  lines.  With  commendable 
forethought  Captain  Ross  sent  one  portion  of  his  battery,  under 
Lieutenant  Laing,  to  take  up  a  more  secure,  position  still  in  the 
rear  of  Sherman's  lines,  when  the  enemy's  cavalry  charged  in 
overwhelming  numbers  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  battery 
was  captured,  including  Captain  Ross,  Lieutenant  Bliss  and 
Lieutenant  Arndt.  General  Hurlbut  gave  the  battery  great 
praise  for  the  vigorous  support  given  him  during  the  severest 
trials  of  the  day. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  engagement  Lieutenant  Laing, 
with  his  section  of  artillery,  gave  a  good  account  of  himself  and 
was  mentioned  favorably  in  general  orders. 


THE    GLASGOW     COLLISION. 

When  John  Morgan  was  on  his  raid  into  Kentucky,  the 
second  battalion  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  had  been  sent 
by  Colonel  Hall  from  Gallatin,  via  Glasgow,  to  Mumfordsville. 
As  the  advance  guard  entered  Glasgow  it  was  just  after  dark. 
A  sergeant  with  six  men  was  on  the  extreme  advance,  with 
orders  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement.  As  they  reached  the 
•public  square  they  saw,  entering  from  a  road  nearly  parallel 
with  theirs,  a  column  partly  mounted,  partly  dismounted, 
stretched  across  the  street,  greeting  their  friends.  The  battal- 


THE    GLASGOW    COLLISION.  319 

ion  halted,  and  the  first  impulse  was  to  fire.  Then  they  thought 
-of  the  numerous  citizens  standing  about,  and  determined  to 
push  on  without  firing  unless  fired  upon.  At  that  moment  a 
Confederate  officer  rode  up  to  the  column  and  with  a  drawn 
revolver  demanded:  "Who  the  h are  you  ?"  but  immedi 
ately  cold  steel  was  pressed  against  the  back  of  his  ear  and  a 

voice  whispered:  "Keep  still,  d you,  or  I'll  blow  the  top 

of  your  head  off.  Disarm  and  move  him  back."  It  was  the 
sergeant  that  whispered  (Sergeant  Hempstead,  of  company  M,) 
and  the  advance  moved  on.  The  only  lights  on  the  streets  were 
from  the  poorly  lighted  store  windows,  and  the  men  were  evi 
dently  well  filled  with  Kentucky  whiskey.  Saloons  were  seen 
open  and  well  filled,  and  in  one  of  them  a  crowd  of  Confed 
erate  officers  were  seen  treating  a  captured  Union  officer.  Our 
advance  moved  on.  The  Confederates,  in  line  across  the  road, 
parted,  giving  room  as  the  column  moved  through.  . 

Soon  our  foraging  trains  and  other  wagons  were  heard 
thundering  up.  Then  a  shot  was  fired  and  indiscriminate  firing 
was  heard  all  around  the  square.  But  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
becoming  alarmed,  fled  back  to  their  main  command. 

The  enemy  had  sent  out  a  picket  on  the  road  our  advance 
took  towards  Cave  City,  and  there,  hearing  the  shots,  returned. 

The  horse  of  one  of  our  men  fell,  hurting  him,  and  the 
sergeant  dismounted  to  help  him.  At  that  instant  two  mounted 
men  rode  up  noiselessly  on  the  sod  at  the  side  of  the  road  and 
commanded  the  sergeant  to  surrender  and  give  up  his  revolver. 
Thoughts  of  rebel  prisons  flashed  through  his  mind,  and, 
though  his  hand  was  on  his  revolver  at  his  side,  the  darkness 
shielded  him  and  he  said,  "I  have  no  revolver;  that  man  lying 


320  LEFT    ON    THE    FIELD. 

there  has  a  revolver."  Turning  upon  him,  they  demanded  his 
revolver.  In  that  instant  the  sergeant's  revolver  was  whipped 
out — two  shots  in  quick  succession — two  groans  and  two  horse 
men  went  reeling  away.  Then  other  shots  were  passed  between 
the  rebel  picket  and  the  Federal  advance,  and  the  sergeant 
joined  his  advance,  but  the  Confederates  were  routed,  returning 
by  the  flanks  to  their  command. 

A  shot  was  heard  between  the  advance  and  the  command 
under  Major  Dickey,  and  returning,  Sergeant  Hempstead  found 
that  the  prostrate  man,  Alexander,  had  been  murdered  in  his- 
helplessness,  probably  by  some  lawless  drunken  fellow.  Let  us 
hope  it  was  not  by  any  Confederate  soldier  in  his  right  senses. 


LEFT  ON    THE  FIELD. 

To  be  left  on  the  field,  wounded,  dying,  was  bad  enough; 
but  with  a  belief  in  recovery  and  a  lingering  death  in  prison, 
half  fed,  half  cared  for,  was  worse.  At  such  a  time  few  officers 
would  think  of  their  men,  and  give  the  order  by  signs  to  leave 
him  to  his  fate,  rather  than  strew  the  field  with  his  followers. 
Such  an  instance  occurred  at  Dandridge.  A  few  companies, 
dismounted,  not  exceeding  200  men,  had  been  stubbornly  resisting 
charges  and  flank  movements;  falling  back  as  rapidly  as  possible 
yet  determined  to  save  their  (then)  useless  artillery  and  ambu 
lances  until  the  artillery  could  get  a  position  where  the  mounted 
cavalry  could  support  them  by  counter  charges.  An  open  field 
was  in  their  rear,  and  the  enemy,  three  lines  deep,  were  rapidly 


LEFT    ON    THE    FIELD.  321 

advancing  to  crush  them,  when  the  dismounted  men  changed 
their  position  across  that  dreaded  open  field.  Among  the  last 
men  across  was  Captain  J.  H.  Smith,  of  company  G.  It  was 
a  narrow  field;  a  high  lane  fence,  barn  and  corn  crib  offered 
temporary  cover  at  the  other  side.  Away  they  rush, 
knowing  well  that  a  volley  would  follow  them  and 
many  might  go  down.  Yet  most  of  them  escaped  with 
slight  wounds.  But  in  the  middle  of  the  field  Captain  Smith 
felt  as  if  hit  by  a  hundred  bullets,  and  went  down.  Ex 
amining  himself  he  found  his  thigh  broken,  his  leg  lying  limp 
and  useless,  in  an  unnatural  position,  his  hat  and  coat  full  of 
holes,  but  he  thought  at  once,  "If  I  don't  bleed  to  death  I  am 
all  right  yet."  His  men  had  gained  shelter  and  were  pouring  a 
destructive  fire  back  upon  the  Confederates.  He  could  hear 
his  men  say,  "Who's  missing  ?"  Then  a  few  hasty  words  and — 
"Rally,  boys,  the  Captain's  wounded.  Rally,  let's  never  leave 
without  him.  See,  he  is  trying  to  turn  over.  He  is  only  wound 
ed."  He  did  turn  over;  and  as  he  thought  of  their  devotion  hot 
tears  filled  his  eyes,  and  he  shouted,  "Ko,  go  back."  But  his 
voice  was  drowned  in  the  enemy's  firing  close  to  his  ears,  and 
as  he  saw  his  men  and  others  of  the  regiment  about  to  climb  the 
fence  to  charge  in  the  face  of  twenty  times  their  number  he 
raised  his  hand  and  waved  then  back.  They  hesitated,  but 
obeyed,  and  left  him  to  his  fate.  But  those  were  a  stubborn 
lot  of  men  that  fell  back  from  that  fence,  and  every  shot  was 
made  to  count.  But  the  enemy  halted  and  passed  around  by 
the  flanks  and  compelled  them  again  to  retreat.  The  stragglers 
of  the  enemy  appeared  to  have  plenty  of  time.  And  when  they 
came  to  him,  the  first  thing  was  his  watch,  ring,  knife  and  boots. 


322  LEFT    ON   THE    FIELD. 

They  looked  over  his  hat  and  coat,  but  threw  them  down  in 
disgust,  as  not  worth  having.  He  had  put  his  money  inside  his 
shirt  and  that  was  saved.  He  asked  the  fellow  that  had  his 
watch  what  time  it  was,  "Twenty  minutes  past  four."  Then  they 
asked  questions  and  he  talked  with  them,  good  naturedly,  and 
wound  up  by  saying:  "Boys,  I  am  a  solid  Yank,  and  the 
best  feeling  fellow  you  ever  saw  when  I  am  at  home  and  well, 
but  you  Johnnies  have  knocked  my  pins  from  under  me,  and  now 
one  good  turn  deserves  another;  you  have  shot  me,  now  carry 
me  to  that  house."  I  was  getting  cold.  They  went  and  got  a 
fruit  ladder;  got  me  on,  very  carefully,  too,  and  carried  me  to 
the  house.  It  was  locked,  so  they  put  me  in  a  weaving  room, 
and  laid  me  down,  rack  and  all,  in  a  corner  (not  the  "northeast 
corner"). 

The  family  returned  about  nine  o'clock.  I  heard  some  one 
outside  and  called  out,  "Hello!"  A  young  woman  came  in,  grop 
ing  in  the  darkness,  and  said,  "  Who's  there  ?"  "A  friend."  "Con 
federate  or  Yankee?"  "Yankee."  Then  she  stooped  down  and  said 
how  glad  father  will  be,  not  that  you  are  wounded  but  that  you 
are  a  Yankee,  and,  in  a  whisper,  "Pa  is  a  Union  man,  and  I  have 
a  brother  in  the  Union  army."  Then  I  said,  "Can  I  trust  you?" 
"Yes."  "Here,  then,  is  my  pocket-book;  the  rebs  may  search  me 
again.  The  doctor  says  I  must  have  my  leg  off.  Go  tell  your 
father  to  come  here.  Mr.  Blackburn  came  in  and  I  told  him  I 
had  heard  the  rebs  searching  the  fence  corners  for  the  officer 
that  fell  in  the  meadow.  I  had  removed  my  shoulder  straps  be 
fore  they  first  got  me,  and  since  then  they  had  supposed  me  a 
private.  They  had  lanterns  and  I  could  hear  them.  He  went 
and  got  a  neighbor  and  between  them  they  carried  me  in  and 


LEFT    ON    THE    FIELD.  323 

laid  me  in  front  of  the  fire.  It  was  freezing  cold  outside  and  the 
reaction,  after  our  exciting  exercise,  had  set  in;  and,  I  tell  you, 
you  may  believe  that  fire  felt  good.  Soon  Generals  Jenkins  and 
Corse  came  in,  and  began  to  question  me  about  what  officer  fell 
on  the  meadow.  I  evaded  them.  Finally  General  Jenkins 
asked  if  I  was  not  an  officer.  "Sir,  I  am  a  poor  wounded 
Yankee,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

"Were  you  not  an  officer  when  with  your  command  ?" 

"I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  a  sergeant — they  wanted  bet 
ter  men  for  officers,  and  generally  had  them  in  the  second  Mich 
igan  cavalry." 

"Where's  your  coat  ?" 

"Under  my  head.  It's  a  jacket."  He  looked  it  over,  and 
said,  "Was  all  this  done  to-day  ?" 

"Yes  and  more,  my  hat  has  lost  half  its  rim,  and  part  of 
the  top." 

"A  close  call,  my  boy." 

"And  now,  General,  it's  my  turn.  I  want  to  ask  that  you 
allow  me  to  remain  here  until  I  die  or  get  better."  He  instructed 
his  adjutant  to  make  an  order  to  that  effect.  Then  he  returned 
to  his  questioning  again.  "What  officer  fell  here  in  front  of  the 
house  ?" 

"I  saw  no  officer  fall." 

"Didn't  you  fall  here  in  front  of  the  house  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Why  didn't  you  say  so,  then  ?" 

"You  didn't  ask  me."  Then  he  laughed,  but  Corse  got 
mad  and  was  very  abusive,  but  General  Jenkins  checked  him, 
and  turning  to  his  own  surgeon  said:  "Do  all  you  can  for  this 


324  A    DARING    SCOUT. 

He  probed  and  pushed  and  shook  his  head.  ^It  must  come 
off  or  you  can't  live  three  days." 

"Clean  it  and  get  that  bullet  and  loose  bone  out  and  I'll 
take  the  chances." 

He  did  so,  and  time,  careful  nursing  and  a  strong  constitu 
tion  did  the  rest.  "But  do  you  see  that  leg,  two  inches  shorter 
than  the  other,  but  a  good  deal  of  a  leg  yet? — and  I  tell  you,  old 
man,  I'll  never  forget  that  Blackburn  family.  Our  troops  re. 
captured  me  when  I  was  well  enough  to  be  moved  and  I  was 
sent  to  Nashville." 

Captain  Smith  has  a  history  back  of  the  last  war  that  would 
make  an  interesting  chapter,  but  we  will  only  intrude  upon  these 
pages  sufficient  space  to  say  that  at  the  age  of  fourteen  lie  en 
tered  a  company  of  soldiers  at  Detroit  in  1847,  and  joined  Scott 
in  Mexico.  Although  but  a  child  in  years  he  was  large  of  his 
age,  and  carried  a  musket;  was  believed  to  be  nineteen  years  old. 
He  was  in  the  principal  engagements  up  to  the  battle  of 
Chapultepec,  where  he  was  wounded,  and  afterwards  served  as 
a  nurse  in  the  hospital.  He  says:  "There  was  a  Lieutenant 
Wilkins  in  my  company  [probably  the  late  Colonel  William 
D.  Wilkins,  of  Detroit,]  he  was  a  good  fellow >,  and  bully  on  a 
fight." 

Without  entering  more  into  the  history  of  Captain  Smith 
it  is  perhaps  little  enough  to  say  that  very  few  have  the  record 
as  hard  fighters  which  he  enjoye"d  among  his  superiors,  and 
especially  from  Sheridan. 


A   DARING    SCOUT. 

A    most    daring    expedition    by  a   small    scouting    party 


A    DARING    SCOUT.  325 

was  that  of  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Whittemore  and  twelve  men, 
during  the  falling  back  of  our  army,  under  Schofield,  before 
Hood,  in  1864,  from  Athens  to  Nashville. 

General  Schofield  was  making  desperate  efforts  to  save  all 
'of  his  trains  and  artillery  as  well  as  men,  and  he  knew  that 
Hood  largely  outnumbered  him.  Therefore,  while  his  trains 
were  being  rapidly  pushed  across  Duck  river  at  Columbia,  Tenn 
essee,  he  held  Columbia  as  long  as  possible,  but  it  was  quite  im 
portant  that  he  should  know  whether  Hood  was  effecting  a 
crossing  at  Lewisburg  or  not.  The  last  of  our  army  would  be 
over  the  river  by  morning  and  to  ascertain  whether  or  no  he 
had  a  flanking  party  to  contend  with,  he  called  for  a  volunteer 
of  twelve  mounted  men  and  an  officer,  to  go  to  Lewisburg  and 
return  in  time  to  join  the  army  in  the  morning.  The  distance 
was  about  sixteen  to  eighteen  miles  by  the  road  they  were  oblig 
ed  to  take,  through  a  country  supposed  to  be  infested  with  rebel 
cavalry.  Said  the  general:  "This  is  a  very  hazardous  under 
taking,  and  you  may  not  be  permitted  to  come  back  the  way 
you  went,  if  you  get  back  at  all.'' 

As  the  little  squad  passed  out  through  our  chain  of  pickets 
an  officer  said  to  them: 

"You  can  not  get  out  here;  there  is  a  chain  of  rebel  pickets 
all  along  there,  across  the  road." 

"Well,  if  we  have  to  come  back  flying,  don't  fire  on  us," 
and  they  rode  out  into  the  darkness.  Taking  a  road  leading  off 
to  the  southeast,  as  much  as  possible  away  from  the  main  por 
tion  of  the  rebel  army,  they  soon  saw  their  camp  fires.  The 
lieutenant  instructed  his  men  and  soon  they  were  riding  boldly 
along  the  road,  talking  as  indifferently  as  if  going  on  picket. 


326  A    DARING    SCOUT. 

"Hello,  boys,"  said  the  Johnnies,  "going  on  picket?" 

"Yes,  and  we  were  on  last  night,  too;  you  fellows  haven't 
been  on  in  a  month,"  and  to  avoid  further  conversation  they 
trotted  their  horses  on,  and  soon  came  to  another  fire.  They 
were  now  between  two  fires  and  could  not  turn  back,  and  at  this 
moment  they  heard  a  volley  of  shots  in  their  rear,  whether  at 
them  or  not  they  never  knew,  but,  dashing  on,  they  soon  dis 
covered  a  deserted  camp,  with  fires  still  smoldering,  and  resolv- 
•ed  then  to  push  on  at  all  hazards.  This  reckless  riding  was 
kept  up  to  the  full  endurance  of  the  horses  until  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  when  they  came  near  Lewisburg.  Seeing  a  house 
near  the  road  they  shouted  to  the  occupants  and  a  man  came 
out. 

"Have  you  seen  any  Yankees  about  here  ?" 

"No,"  says  the  citizen,  "until  I  saw  you."  Then  he  con 
tinued:  "You  need  not  be  afraid  of  my  blowing;  I  am  as  good 
a  Yankee  as  you  are;  what  you  looking  for  ?" 

"We  belong  to  the  -  -  Georgia  cavalry,  and  are  looking 
for  our  command;  did  any  of  them  cross  here  ?" 

"No." 

Their  secret  was  understood  and  the  desired  information 
given,  and,  also,  telling  them  the  best  road  by  which  to  return. 
They  saw  other  citizens  who  confirmed  the  intelligence  received; 
and  immediately  set  out  on  the  return  by  another  route. 

It  was  not  only  very  dark  but  rainy,  and  the  streams  were 
rising,  and  where  they  had  been  told  there  were  fords,  the  water 
had  risen  and  they  could  not  cross.  Every  mile  now  brought 
them  nearer  the  rebel  army.  They  would  try  one  more  ford  if 
they  could  get  there,  and  if  not  they  must  swim.  By  the  time 


THE    ROMANCE    OF    WAR.  327 

they  had  reached  the  last  possible  ford  it  was  broad  daylight, 
and  if  the  rebels  had  learned  of  the  little  scouting  party  they 
were  probably  being  sought  for. 

"Now  for  it,  boys,"  and  a  dash  of  half  an  hour  brought 
them  to  the  river.  As  they  had  feared,  they  must  swim,  and  to 
add  interest  to  their  situation,  horsemen  were  seen  up  the  road 
coming  towards  them  on  the  gallop.  They  plunged  in,  giving 
the  horses  the  rein,  throwing  themselves  from,  but  clinging  to 
saddles,  and  every  one  of  them  safely  reached  the  other  shore, 
climbing  up  the  steep  bank  as  the  enemy  dashed  down  to  the 
opposite  side  and  gave  them  a  volley.  But  their  bullets  were 
harmless,  and  giving  the  rebels  a  parting  salute  the  little  band 
returned  in  time  to  join  the  command  as  the  last  of  them  had 
left  Columbia. 

General  Schofield  had  given  them  up  as  captured  or  scat 
tered,  perhaps  to  be  bushwhacked,  or  scattered  before  reaching 
our  lines,  and  his  pleasure  at  seeing  them  all  safe  can  only  be 
imagined.  He  complimented  them  highly  on  the  success  of 
their  daring  expedition. 


THE    ROMANCE    OF   WAR. 

When  an  army  is  lying  in  camp,  waiting  for  a  forward 
movement,  and  that  camp  chances  to  be  amid  pleasant  surround 
ings,  then  often  occur  scenes  around  which  "memory  loves  to 
linger."  There  were  many  such  in  the  south,  and  Franklin, 
Tennessee,  during  the  spring  of  1863  comes  back  fresh  as  a 
pleasant  dream  after  these  twenty  years. 


328  THE    ROMANCE    OF    WAR. 

I  was  an  early  riser  those  days,  and  occasionally  when  the 
sun  began  to  streak  the  east,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  not  a  sound  from  human  voice  disturbed  the  slumbering 
camp,  I  have  wandered  away  to  the  hills  or  "knobs,"  as  they 
were  called,  to  be  where  I  could  hear  and  take  in  the  first 
awakening  of  the  camp. 

If  this  article  falls  under  the  eye  of  any  who  are  not 
"moved  by  the  harmony  of  sweet  sounds,"  they  need  not  read 
it.  But  come  with  me,  you  lovers  of  Nature,  and  I  will  try  and 
paint  you  a  picture.  Walking  briskly  along  the  path,  the 
modest  sensitive  plant  droops  and  lies  prostrate  until  you  have 
passed  on  out  of  sight.  The  mocking  bird — prince  of  vocalists 
— flits  from  bush  to  bush,  singing  as  he  goes  in  circles  around 
a  certain  tree,  and  you  know  the  mother  bird  is  near  brooding  a 
nest.  You  have  heard  the  song  all  night,  perhaps,  yet  it  is 
just  as  sweet  and  strong  as  when  first  you  heard  it.  The  twitter 
of  other  birds  is  there,  but  they  sink  into  insignificance  beside 
our  favorite.  We  climb  the  hill,  perhaps  200  feet,  and  find  a 
tempting  boulder  on  the  hillside.  Now  sit  here  and  listen 
and  look.  Half  a  mile  to  the  south  the  Harpeth  winds 
through  the  valley,  and  beyond,  the  early  rising  citizens  are 
sending  heavenward  wreaths  of  smoke  from  nearly  every  chim 
ney  in  the  town  of  Franklin.  Between  us  and  -the  river, 
spread  out  in  bird's-eye  view,  are.  the  tents,  wagons,  horses 
and  mules  of  25,000  troops.  Around  each  regiment,  in 
measured  tread,  along  a  well  beaten  path  mechanically  tramps 
the  stiffly  alert  soldier.  Suddenly  from  the  headquarters  grounds, 
near  the  tent  of  General  Gordon  Granger,  a  long  haired 
Indian  bugler  stands  out  before  the  flag-staff.  The  air  is 


THE    ROMANCE    OF    WAR.  329 

<clear,  and  his  proud  bearing  is  noted,  even  at  this  distance, 
as  he  raises  that  old  copper  bugle,  different  from  all  others  in 
the  army,  and,  poising  it  for  an  instant  only,  with  its  mouth 
pointing  above  the  distant  hills,  he  sends  forth  an  ear-piercing, 
elephantine  blast  that  might  serve  well  at  the  judgment  day. 
How  rich,  at  this  distance!  like  the  Alpine  horns  echoing  across 
the  valley  and  against  the  hillside,  back  and  forth,  the  last 
drawn  cadence  serving  to  bring  to  his  feet  the  sleepiest  laggard 
among  the  regimental  and  company  buglers. 

Then  the  cavalry  and  artillery  repeat  the  call  and  the 
infantry  drums  roll  and  rattle  tr-r-r-r-r-rat,  tr-r-r-rat-tat!  and 
now,  listen — a  horse  neighs;  a  mule  brays!  listen  again,  there 
they  go.  Ye-haw,  ye-haw,  e-haw,  haw,  from  5,000  mulish 
throats  in  horrid  discord,  yet  musical  when  distance  lends 
enchantment.  And  now  the  sleepy  teamsters  are.  seen  moving 
from  under  the  wagons,  out  of  the  wagons,  from  tents  and 
from  every  quarter  to  feed  and  "stop  that  racket."  There  are 
acres  and  acres  of  them;  rows  of  wagons  a  half  mile  long  parked 
in  wheel  to  wheel.  And  now,  as  the  mules'  reveille  is  cut  short 
by  rations  of  oats,  corn  or  hay,  we  can  hear  the  roll  calls  from 
the  parade  grounds  and  the  answers,  Here!  here!!  here!!! 

Suddenly  we  discover  smoke  or  dust  away  south  on  the 
Columbia  pike,  two  miles  away.  Then  a  horseman  comes  tear 
ing  over  the  hill  out  of  the  dust  and  disappears  behind  the  trees 
and  houses  nearer  town.  Then  a  line  of  horses,  in  groups  of 
fours  moving  back  rapidly,  but  not  in  very  good  order;  evident 
ly  being  led  by  one  man  out  of  four,  and  just  behind  them  a 
line  of  dismounted  men,  running  for  cover.  They  reach  a  stone 
wall  and  are  immediately  over  and  faced  about.  Then  we 


330  SURGEONS    HENDERSON — BROWNELL. 

see  a  line  of  smoke  from  the  guns  of  the  dismounted  men, 
and  a  rushing  up  and  scattering  of  mounted  men.  Then  the 
dismounted  men  fall  back  as  a  party  of  mounted  flankers  are 
seen  swinging  around  the  right.  The  next  instant  our  long 
roll  is  sounded,  and  '-boots  and  saddles"  immediately  after. 
There  is  shouting  and  hurrying  and  we  have  seen  enough  for 
this  morning.  Tumbling,  jumping,  running,  down  the  hill  we 
go,  and  find  our  horses  saddled  by  our  faithful  negro  and  ready 
for  an  all  day's  fight  or  a  foot  race  along  the  front  line  of  our 
advance  pickets. 

This  is  no  fancy  picture,  but  a  real  copy  of  scenes  that  were 
witnessed  almost  any  morning  in  May  or  June,  1863,  along  that 
lovely  valley  of  the  Harpeth. 


SURGEON    CHARLES    L.    HENDERSON. 

This  officer  was  sick  during  the  entire  period  of  my  labor 
on  this  work,  and  therefore  I  only  have  his  official  record  from 
which  to  write.  He  joined  the  great  band  beyond  the  river 
about  January  15th,  1884,  and  we  can  but  say  he  was  a  faithful 
officer  and  friend. 

What  greater  praise  needs  any  man? 


SURGEON    WM.    BROWNELL. 

Surgeon  Brownell  entered  the  service  in  1861  as  assistant 
surgeon  and  served  as  such  until  Surgeon  Henderson  was  mus 
tered  out  in  October,  1862,  when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  sur 
geon  and  filled  them  with  great  success  and  acceptability. 


SURGEON    GREEN.  331 

While  surgeon  of  the  regiment  he  was  frequently  called 
upon  to  take  charge  of  brigade  and  division  hospitals  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  in  charge  of  the  post  hospital  at  Nashville. 

The  knowledge  he  added  to  his  store  during  the  war  placed 
him  in  a  high  rank  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  in  civil  life  and  he 
has  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  first  in  his  pro 
fession  in  the  state.  He  has  resided  since  at  Utica,  Michigan, 
and  his  reputation  has'  extended  far  beyond  his  local  practice, 
and  so  arduous  have  been  his  duties  that  he  has  of  late  been 
much  shattered  in  health. 


SURGEON  W.  F.  GREEN. 

This  officer  came  to  the  regiment  as  acting  assistant  sur 
geon  at  Pine  Hills,  Mississippi,  from  the  ranks  of  the  seventy- 
first  Ohio,  at  a  time  when  surgeons  were  in  demand.  We  were 
well  officered  as  to  surgeons,  Drs.  Charles  Henderson  and  Wil 
liam  Brownell,  but  sickness  did  not  let  the  doctors  alone  more 
than  others,  and,  in  that  Mississippi  country,  the  surgeons  were 
sorely  tried,  by  overwork  and  a  bad  climate.  Hospital  steward 
Ranney  was  sick,  and  Dr.  Henderson  scarcely  equal,  physically, 
to  the  task,  and,  at  such  a  time,  a  cheerful  word,  such  as  Dr. 
Green  always  had,  went  far  among  the  boys,  and  he  was  wel 
comed  with  open  arms.  His  papers,  a  certificate  from  the  exam 
ining  board  of  surgeons,  were  satisfactory,  and  he  went  to  work 
in  real  earnest.  From  this  time  on  he  was  ever  at  his  post,  by 
night  or  day.  On  the  front  line,  if  need  be,  or  wherever  duty 
called  him,  there  the  tall,  lank  form  of  Dr.  Green  loomed  up  like 


332  SURGEON    GREEN. 

the  ghost  of  old  Hippocrates  himself;  and  while  the  regiment 
slept  after  the  battle  of  Perryville,  he.  with  the  other  surgeons, 
works,  cutting,  slashing,  sawing,  binding,  and  bathing  during 
the  long  hours  of  that  horrible  night,  and  had  for  a  morning 
appetizer  the  sight  and  smell  of  cartloads  of  arms  and  legs. 
What  a  dissecting  table  that!  But  we  felt  that  "old  saw-bones," 
as  we  affectionately  called  him,  would  make  no  useless  sacrifice 
of  limb. 

His  reputation  was  now  firmly  established,  and,  at  the  first 
opportunity,  he  was  promoted,  and  we  saw  him  assistant  sur 
geon,  surgeon  of  the  first  East  Tennessee  and  brigade  surgeon, 
and  had  charge  of  forty  ambulances  filled  with  wounded  on  the 
retreat  from  that  slaughter  pen  around  Crawfish  Springs  travel 
ing  all  night  and  arriving  at  Chattanooga  on  the  morning  of 
September  21. 

He  continued  as  brigade  surgeon  through  the  Wheeler  raid, 
the  East  Tennessee  campaign,  and  was  division  surgeon  with 
General  E.  M.  McCook  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  until  the  regi 
ment  returned  and  the  Hood  campaign  began,  when  he  again 
joined  the  brigade  under  General  John  T.  Croxton  and  served 
with  it  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

NOTES    BY    DR.    GREEN. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Perryville,  in  crossing 
over  the  field  a  party  was  seen  digging  among  the  new  made 
graves.  It  proved  to  be  an  old  gentleman  from  Indiana.  He 
had  brought  a  rude  coffin  in  the  wagon  with  him,  and  when  the 
body  was  reached,  he  gave  it  a  hasty,  heart-broken  look,  and, 
.shaking  his  head,  declared  this  was  not  his  son. 


SURGEON    RANNEY.  333 

We  asked  to  see  his  letters  and  soon  discovered  he  had 
come  to  the  wrong  part  of  the  field.  The  letter  said  the  son  was 
color  bearer  of  the  regiment  and  was  the  third  man  who  had 
fallen  that  day  while  bearing  the  colors.  The  letter  gave  direc 
tions  where  to  find  the  body,  "near  a  large  white  oak  tree — a 
burnt  log,"  etc.  On  the  breast  was  a  piece  of  the  colors  of  the 
regiment,  and  a  piece  of  paper,  with  writing,  which  enabled 
them  to  identify  the  body. 

He  picked  up  a  cannon  ball  and,  saying  that  was  the  first  he 
had  ever  seen,  declared  he  would  take  it  home,  and,  with  the 
money  the  son  had  sent  home  to  assist  in  paying  for  their  farm 
he  would  erect  a  monument. 

He  also  took  up  a  small  cedar  standing  near  and  wrapped 
the  roots  carefully. 

That  scene  at  the  identification,  deep,  yet  simple,  demon 
strations  of  affection,  was  very  touching,  and  the  sorrowing 
old  man  moved  quietly  away,  as  if  leading  a  solemn  but  grand 
funeral  cortege. 


SURGEON  GEO.  E.  RANNEY. 

George  E.  Ranney  comes  from  a  family  well  known  in  his 
tory,  for  military  and  naval  achievements.  He  is  a  direct  lineal 
descendant  of  Samuel  Champlain,  the  French  naval  officer  and  ex 
plorer,  the  founder  of  Quebec  and  the  French  colony  in  Can 
ada.  There  has  been  a  crossing  of  Scotch  blood,  but  the  family 
characteristics  remain. 

When  the  war  begun,  Geo.  E.  Ranney,  at  the  age  of  22, 
entered  company  B,  second  Michigan  cavalry,  as  a  private. 


334  SURGEON    RANNEY. 

He  had  been  studying  medicine,  but  was  not  a  graduate.  His 
knowledge  of  medicine,  however,  made  his  services  in  demand, 
and  he  was  assigned  to  the  hospital  department  as  steward, 
where  he  served  until  overwork  and  sickness  drove  him  home, 
in  the  summer  of  1862.  During  his  convalescence  he  entered  the 
medical  department  of  Michigan  University,  and  graduating 
in  1863,  was  immediately  sent  by  Governor  Blair  to  the  regiment 
as  second  assistant  surgeon. 

A  surgeon's  duties  with  a  cavalry  regiment,  if  he  is  with  his 
regiment,  as  he  should  be,  on  all  raids,  night  or  day,  are  not 
of  "elegant  leisure,"  and  the  assistant  surgeons  are  usually  ex 
pected  to  do  the  bulk  of  the  work,  and  young  Ranney  found 
himself  immediately  in  business.  Joining  the  regiment  at  Triune, 
on  the  very  first  day's  advance  he  assisted  the  medical  director 
in  amputating  a  soldier's  arm  to  the  music  of  whistling  bullets 
during  the  sharp  engagement  at  Rover.  His  coolness  of  nerve 
at  once  established  him  in  the  highest  esteem  with  the  medical 
director. 

Surgeon  Ranney  remained  constantly  at  his  post  during 
that  campaign,  which  culminated  in  the  battle  of  Chicamauga, 
September  20,  1863,  where  he  was  captured.  He  was  sent  to 
Libby  prison  soon  after  and  held  there  till  November  24  follow 
ing,  as  a  hostage.  Returning  to  duty  with  his  regiment,  he  was 
soon  after  called  upon  to  operate  for  the  brigade  at  Pulaski 
until  the  retreat,  when  he  joined  the  regiment,  serving  as  the 
only  medical  officer  of  the  regiment,  also  acting  as  brigade  sur 
geon.  He  served  with  them  through  the  Tennessee  campaign — 
the  advance  and  retreat  of  Hood — and  soon  after  Ranney  was 
made  full  surgeon  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  division  hospital, 


SURGEON    RANNEY.  335 

and  made  its  chief  operator.  As  the  cavalry  moved  south  and 
liberated  the  prisoners,  Surgeon  Ranney  was  the  first  to  report 
on  the  brutality  of  Captain  Wirz,  which  resulted  in  the  arrest 
and  final  hanging  of  that  brute. 

The  hospital  departments  of  the  three  divisions  of  the  cavalry 
corps  being  consolidated  at  Macon  Surgeon  Ranney  was  ordered 
to  receipt  to  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  the  second  and  third 
divisions  and  establish  and  take  charge  of  the  corps  hospital, 
where  all  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  command  were  treated 

When  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  was  mustered  out 
Surgeon  Ranney  was  assigned  to  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-sixth 
United  States  colored  infantry,  and  remained  in  the  service  until 
January,  1866. 

Since  the  war  Dr.  Ranney  has  lived  and  practiced  his  pro 
fession  at  Lansing,  and  his  experience  and  natural  and  acquired 
abilities  have  won  for  him  a  reputation  that  has  made  him  well 
and  favorably  known,  even  beyond  the  confines  of  his  own 
state. 

CHICAMAUGA   AND   ATLANTA NOTES  FROM  SURGEON  RANNEY. 

An  Irishman  had  his  haversack  strap  cut  by  a  bullet. 
"Bedad,  they're  cutting  off  my  supplies" — came  quick  and 
fresh,  though  lead  and  iron  filled  the  air  like  swarming  bees. 

Some  three  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Chicamauga  the 
wounded  were  parolled  and  sent  to  Chattanooga  under  a  flag  of 
truce.  Surgeon  Ranney  (a  prisoner  on  duty  at  Crawfish  Springs) 
assisted  General  Bragg's  provost  marshal  in  parolling  the 
wounded  under  Dr.  Ranney's  charge.  An  able  bodied  man 
placed  himself  among  the  wounded,  and  as  the  doctor  came 


336  SURGEON    RANNEY. 

to  him  he  gave  a  meaning  and  anxious  look  which  plainly  said: 
"I  have  had  all  I  want  of  prisoner's  life;  get  me  oat."  So  his 
name  was  entered  among  the  wounded  and  he  went  away  with 
a  light  heart. 

The  Federal  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  hospital  asked  soon 
after.  "Where  is  Wright  ?" 

"He  is  parolled." 

"How  did  he  come  to  be  parolled  ?     He  was  not   wounded." 

"Yes,  he  was;  severely  wounded." 

"Why,"  said  the  Federal  surgeon,  "I  did  not  know  that 
before;  where  was  he  wounded?" 

"His  feelings  were  terribly  lacerated,  and  I  recommended 
a  change  of  climate." 

Just  before  the  battle  of  Resaca,  General  Stanley,  who  had 
previously  commanded  our  cavalry  corps,  but  was  then  in  com 
mand  of  an  infantry  corps,  was  informed  that  he  would  have  the 
advance  in  the  morning,  and  that  probably  there  would  be 
sharp  work;  and  was  asked  what  cavalry  regiment  he  wanted 
in  the  advance  to  open  the  fight  or  skirmish,  as  the  case  might 
be.  He  replied:  "Give  me  the  second  Michigan  cavalry." 

And  his  choice,  though  not  generally  known  at  the  time, 
proved  a  wise  one,  for  the  regiment  drove  the  enemy's  skirmish 
lines  of  cavalry  behind  their  infantry  and  following  them  up 
fiercely  drove  the  first  line  of  infantry,  also,  from  behind  their 
intrenchments.  But  as  they  anticipated,  they  were  then  met 
by  large  bodies  of  infantry  and  driven  from  the  captured  works. 
As  we  were  falling  back  we  met  a  brigadier-general  who  asked: 
"What  is  the  trouble?" 

"We  have  met  the  enemy  in  force  and  can  advance  no  fur 
ther." 


COMMISSARIES.  337 

"Oh,"  said  the  brigadier,  "I  will  send  a  company  or  two  of 
infantry  in  there  and  give  them  a  volley  and  I  guess  we  will  start 
them." 

Just  then  General  Stanley  came  up.  "Well,  you  found 
them.  How  is  it  ?" 

He  was  told  the  situation  and  the  infantry  brigadier  re 
peated  his  remarks,  with  not  a  little  sarcasm  in  his  tone. 

"Put  your  whole  brigade  into  line  at  once,"  said  Stanley, 
and  before  the  brigade  was  in  position,  the  enemy  opened  upon 
them,  with  a  part  of  our  regiment  Dr.  Ranney,  (who  had  gone 
back  to  get  a  wounded  man)  among  the  number,  between  the 
two  lines. 

The  second  Michigan  took  the  left,  and  the  battle  raged 
fiercely  all  day,  the  Confederates  breaking  our  lines  at  the  point 
where  the  cavalry  was  replaced  by  infantry,  and  when  night 
came,  our  infantry  lines  having  been  driven  back,  and  the  cavalry 
still  remaining  out  on  the  left,  were  supposed  to  be  captured. 
Coming  into  camp  at  midnight  we  were  fired  upon  by  our  in 
fantry  pickets. 


COMMISSARIES. 

There  were  few  men  in  the  army  whose  positions  were 
more  arduous  and  whose  labors  were  less  appreciated,  when 
faithfully  discharging  their  duties,  than  the  commissaries. 
Dependent  upon  the  quartermaster,  generally,  for  transportation, 
it  mattered  little  to  the  hungry  soldier  whether  the  hard  bread 
had  become  wet  and  mouldy  en  route  or  not.  The  commissary 


338  IN   THE    HOSPITAL. 

was  more  often  greeted  with:  "Say,  old  hard-tack,  what  sort  of 
stuff  is  this  you're  givin'  us  ?"  Or,  if  rations  of  fresh  beef  were 
being  issued,  he  was  more  than  likely  to  be  greeted  with, 
<<Hello,  when  did  that  old  bull  die?"  If  it  was  bacon,  "sow 
belly"  was  the  euphonious  name  indulged  in.  If  the  boys  hap 
pened  to  be  "dry"  and  they  knew  the  commissary  was  well 
fixed,  there  was  no  taffy  good  enough  for  the  commissary. 

Amid  all  these  trials  E.  W.  Lauranse,  whose  gray  hair  and 
whiskers  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  regiment,  and 
extended  even  through  the  brigade  and  army,  made  many 
friends  and  won  for  himself  a  reputation  for  faithful  services 
second  to  none.  His  portrait  will  be  found  among  the  staff 
officers.  He  is,  at  this  writing,  still  living,  though  well 
advanced  in  years,  in  comparatively  good  health,  at  Utica, 
Michigan. 


IN   THE    HOSPITAL. 

There  was  heroism  among  the  women  of  the  south  on  both 
sides  of  the  Union  question  that  women  of  the  north  as  a  whole 
have  known  little  about.  It  was  necessarily  so.  The  war, 
whatever  the  cause,  was  upon  them,  among  them,  destroying 
home  circles  by  dividing  families,  destroying  homes  as  well, 
and  often,  very  often,  bringing  gaunt  hunger  to  the  door.  In 
times  when  men's  and  women's  souls  are  tried,  heroic  characters 
are  made  all  the  more  conspicuous  by  their  throwing  aside  all 
considerations  of  personal  safety  and  social  ostracism. 

The  true  heroes  were  not  two  faced,  "all  things  to  all  men," 


IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  339 

but  they  dared,  in  the  face  of  a  thousand  to  one,  to  shout,  on 
the  streets  or  housetops  "Hurrah!  hurrah!  for  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,"  and  wave  their  dainty  kerchiefs  as  that  starry  emblem 
passed  by,  even  though  they  knew  that  behind  every  window 
screen  sharp  eyes  were  watching  them. 

Such  a  woman  was  Miss  F.  O.  Courtney,  of  Franklin, 
Tennessee,  and  this  feeling,  though  less  fearless,  her  mother  and 
sister  shared  with  her.  It  is  related  of  her  that  she  was  first 
brought  to  the  notice  of  Federal  ofiicers  and  soldiers  by  waving 
her  handkerchief  to  a  regiment  on  their  way  to  the  battle  at 
Shiloh.  A  major  was  in  command,  and  he  gallantly  dismounted 
afid  deftly  slipping  his  diamond  scarf  pin  from  his  throat, 
placed  it  upon  the  necktie  of  Miss  Courtney;  mounting  his 
horse,  he  passed  on  without  so  much  as  knowing  the  young 
lady's  name.  As  regiment  after  regiment  marched  onward  the 
story  was  wafted  to  the  passing  army,  and  cheer  after  cheer 
rent  the  air  for  the  patriotic  girl  of  Tennessee. 

But  it  is  of  her  part  in  the  hospital  that  I  would  write.  It 
was  known  from  the  time  that  Sherman  cut  loose  for  his 
march  to  the  sea  that  Hood  would  invade  Tennessee,  and  those 
who  could,  at  once  began  to  prepare  for  the  crisis.  A  secret 
cellar  was  made  ready,  the  entrance  to  which  was  by  a  trap 
door  under  a  carpet,  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Courtney,  and  this 
underground  room  was  filled  with  substantial  provisions — bacon 
sugar,  coffee,  etc. 

That  terrible  30th  of  November,  1864,  (the  battle  of  Frank 
lin)  came,  and  at  once  every  house  was  a  hospital,  and  every  yard 
was  filled  with  dead  and  dying,  while  the  surgeons  were  busily 
fitting  up  churches  and  school  houses  for  more  permanent  and 
roomy  quarters. 


340  IN    THE     HOSPITAL. 

In  the  largest  school  building  there  were,  among  others,  12O 
Federal  officers  and  soldiers,  most  of  whom  ought,  under  favor 
able  treatment,  to  recover,  and  over  these  an  assistant  surgeon 
had  been  detailed  to  watch,  but  the  importance  of  his  position 
seemed  to  turn  his  head,  and  he  at  once  became  so  overbearing  as 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  few  Unionists  who  visited  there. 
The  Misses  Courtney,  with  their  mother,  at  once  made  it  their 
special  business  to  be  at  the  hospital,  some,  or  all,  of  them  con 
stantly,  and  not  only  to  nurse  the  suffering  fellows,  but  to  pre 
pare,  from  their  own  storehouse,  such  provisions  as  they  had 
(which  were  much  better  than  the  Confederates  had  for  their  men) 
in  such  a  palatable  manner  that  their  presence  was  hailed  like 
angels'  visits.  Every  piece  of  white  cotton,  even  to  their  skirts,, 
was  torn  up  for  bandages,  not  even  a  change  of  under  linen  was- 
preserved.  Confederates  were  nursed  by  their  hosts  of  friends- 
and  Federals  by  these  three  and,  perhaps,  in  all,  a  half  dozen 
women  of  Union  sympathies. 

The  Federal  surgeon  in  charge  was  very  negligent  and, 
sometimes  willfully  indifferent  to  some  of  his  men,  and  the 
pleading  looks  and  words  the  boys  gave,  "Don't  leave  me  to  that 
scoundrel,  or  I  shall  die,"  were  heart-rending. 

Unceasingly  those  women  labored,  cooking  and  nursing, 
and  the  thundering  artillery  of  Nashville  was  heard  on  the 
fifteeth  and  sixteenth  day  after  the  Franklin  butchery. 

The  last  bit  of  bacon  and  coffee,  flour  and  sugar  had  been 
eaten.  The  nurses  had  become,  in  their  garments,  nearly  a& 
filthy  as  the  soldiers  had  been  on  entering  the  hospital.  What 
should  they  do  now  for  food  ?  The  seventeenth  day  had  come,. 


LIEUTENANT    D ARROW.  341 

and  no  signs  of  the  Federal  army.  The  heavy  artillery  firing 
had  ceased.  Which  way  had  the  battle  gone  ?  If  the  Confed 
erates  knew  they  were  silent. 

Fainting,  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  began  to  clamor  for 
something  to  eat,  but  the  Confederates  appeared  not  to  hear 
them,  and  the  day  wore  on. 

Women  of  the  North,  can  you  picture  to  yourselves  the 
horrors  which  oppressed  the  minds  of  those  120  neglected  "boys 
in  blue?"  Can  you  wonder  that  those  loyal  hearts  turned 
silently  away  to  hide  the  fast  welling  tears,  at  their  powerless 
condition  ? 

A  distant  shot  is  heard.  "There!"  another,  and  another. 
"They  are  coming!"  in  faint  murmurs  ran  through  the  room. 
Straggling  soldiers,  ragged,  unarmed,  hurried  through  the  streets 
and  then,  in  broken  squads,  companies  and  regiments  they  came, 
closely  pressed  by  the  Federal  soldiers.  Hunger  was  forgotten 
in  their  great  joy,  and  soon  the  hospital  supply  train  followed. 
Then  there  were  hastily  prepared  dishes,  and  once  more  faces 
grew  bright,  and  a  quiet,  peaceful  night  settled  down  over  those 
hospital  cots. 

If  the  services  of  those  devoted  women  have  ever  been 
recognized  by  the  government  we  have  not  heard  of  it. 


LIEUTENANT    RUSSELL  A.    DARROW. 


It  was   a    notorious  fact    that    few   men  who  entered   the 
army  with  ordinary  pretensions   to   morality   or  religion   with- 


342  LIEUTENANT    DARROW. 

stood  the  powerful  influences  for  evil  that  surrounded  them. 
Lieutenant  Darrow  was  one  of  that  few  who  kept  themselves 
pure  and  spotless,  and  his  heroic  devotion  to  his  country,  ex 
tending  as  it  did  beyond  all  just  claims  upon  his  service, 
was  the  subject  of  admiration.  His  time  had  expired  and  his 
muster  out  had  been  ordered  but  was  only  awaiting  his  pre- 
senc?  at  the  muster  out  officer's.  He  had  thought  the  war  about 
over  and  was  about  to  return  and  enter  upon  his  study  for  the 
ministry. 

Forrest's  men  were  trying  to  escape  out  of  Tennessee  and 
were  nearing  the  river  between  Cypress  creek  and  the  Tennes 
see,  when  three  companies  of  the  second  Michigan,  under  Major 
Dickinson,  were  ordered  down  a  by-road  to  intercept  them. 
They  gained  the  front  of  the  enemy  by  a  charge  of  three  miles 
to  a  point  near  the  ford,  with  a  piece  of  woods  on  one  side  and 
a  field  on  the  other.  Twenty  dismounted  men  of  company  M 
occupied  the  road  and  to  the  left  of  it.  The  others  of  the  bat 
talion  were  deployed  in  the  woods. 

Lieutenant  Darrow  remained  mounted,  though  partly  under 
cover  of  the  woods.  The  enemy  pressed  upon  them,  apparently 
a  whole  division,  mounted.  Many  of  the  Confederates  wore  the 
Federal  uniform,  and  deceived  Lieutenant  Darrow  into  think 
ing  perhaps  he  was  firing  upon  our  own  men  of  some  other 
regiment.  He  asked,  "What  regiment  is  that?"  The  enemy 
were  close  at  hand — short  pistol  range.  The  reply  was  a  volley 
of  bullets,  and  poor  Darrow  reeled  in  his  saddle.  But  the 
twenty  men  at  the  road  sides  replied  with  a  volley  that  more 
than  trebly  avenged  (so  far  as  numbers  were  concerned)  the 
death  of  their  young  commander,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to 
abandon  that  line  of  retreat  and  pass  around  by  the  flank. 


JIM  BROWNLOW.  343 

"Oh,  my  God!  My  poor  old  mother,"  said  he,  as  he  passed 
into  an  unconscious  state,  and  quietly  breathed  out  his  life,  a 
victim  to  treachery. 


TURNING  THE    TIDE JIM  BROWNLOW  CAPTURED. 

At  one  time  during  the  sharp  engagement  at  Fair  Garden, 
East  Tennessee,  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  were  driven  back 
from  the  edge  of  a  wood  they  were  approaching  across  an  open 
field  and  up  the  steep  bank  of  a  creek,  by  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
mounted  in  strong  force.  But  there  they  took  up  a  position 
and  held  it.  The  first  Tennessee,  seeing  the  second  driven  back, 
became  panic  stricken  and  breaking  wildly,  fled.  Colonel  Camp 
bell  seeing  what  had  happened  hurried  a  staff  officer  after 
Colonel  Brbwnlow  with  his  regiment  of  Tennesseeans.  He 
found  them  and  soon  returned.  Meantime  the  enemy  had  ap 
parently  run  the  other  way,  and  following  with  a  small  force  in 
advance  for  about  two  miles,  they  were  discovered  in  the  woods 
The  enemy  seeing  only  a  small  force,  contented  themselves  with 
keeping  them  in  check  by  a  few  shots,  and  Colonel  Campbell 
brought  up  his  artillery,  and  showing  the  commander  the  posi 
tion,  very  close  to  the  enemy's  lines,  asked  if  he  dare  place  his 
guns  in  the  edge  of  the  woods — so  close  to  the  enemy's  line  that 
as  Colonel  Campbell  expressed  it,  I  coul  d  see  the  whites  of  their 
eyes."  The  artillery  captain's  reply  was:  "I  dare  place  it 
wherever  you  say,  if  it's  in  hell." 

"All  right,"  said  the  colonel,  I  will  go  with    you,    and    take 


344 

the  second  Michigan  cavalry  as  support;  and  before  the  enemy 
were  aware  of  the  presence  of  our  main  force,  the  artillery 
opened  upon  them  at  short  range. 

Campbell  ordered  a  charge  and  the  rebels  broke  in  con 
fusion.  They  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  get  their  guns  away, 
but  Colonel  Lagrange,  with  his  brigade,  charged  them  on  the 
left  and  captured  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  150  prisoners, 
killing  and  wounding  many  and  scattering  the  rest. 

This  was  Colonel  Jim  Brownlow's  opportunity,  and  he 
rushed  after  them  with  Ihe  utmost  recklessness  until  far  within 
the  enemy's  lines.  The  regiment  mostly  got  away,  but  Colonel 
Jim  was  captured,  though  unrecognized,  having  a  plain 
jacket  on,  and  by  a  little  strategy  succeeded  in  making  his  es 
cape  in  the  night  and  return  to  camp  next  day,  amid  the  wild 
cheers  of  his  men,  as  well  as  the  whole  brigade,  with  whom  he 
was  a  general  favorite,  notwithstanding  his  recklessness. 


It  was  at  Fair  Garden,  East  Tennessee.  The  second  Mich 
igan  cavalry  was  deployed,  dismounted,  in  front  of  the  brigade, 
and  for  want  of  better  cover,  both  armies  were  lying  flat  upon 
the  ground  and  pouring  a  deadly  hail  of  lead  at  each  other. 
This  continued  for  a  short  time,  when  a  soldier  on  the  Confeder 
ate  side  arose  to  his  feet  and  boldly  dashed  back  to  cover  of  the 
woods.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ben  Smith  shouted  at  the  top  of 


345 

his  voice.  "Five  dollars  for  that  rebel!"  When  the  whole 
regiment  sprang  to  their  feet  and  dashing  forward  drove  the  ad 
vance  of  the  enemy  from  the  field. 


The  negro's  love  of  amusement  was  always  a  source  of  de. 
light  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  army  that  found  opportunities 
for  indulgence  under  the  most  gloomy  surroundings.  The  hot 
July  sun  beat  pitilessly  upon  the  Federal  soldiers  in  Mississippi, 
filling  camp  and  hospital  with  fever  racked  patients,  and  kept 
burial  parties  busy,  but  the  down  trodden  blacks  were  happy. 
They  felt  that  the  presence  of  an  army  of  slavery-hating  soldiers 
meant  something,  though  no  promises  of  protection  or  escape 
were  held  out.  Male  and  female,  young  and  old,  flocked  to  camp, 
asking  nothing;  expecting  nothing;  half  clothed  and  always 
barefoot,  they  gathered  around  camp  fires,  and  indulged  their 
overflowing  spirits  in  songs  of  freedom  and  plantation  break 
downs,  or  "walk  'round."  The  end-board  to  an  army  wagon, 

with  the  smooth  side  up,  afforded  them  just  the  thing  for  a 
platform,  and  around  they  go,  in  a  circle,  one  behind  the  other* 
pausing  as  their  feet  touched  the  end-board  to  shuffle  and  jig  to 
the  time  of  spatting  hands  against  hands,  knees  and  hand 
again;  patting  of  feet  and  a  genuine  plantation  melody — a 
jumble  of  meaningless  words  and  sentences,  and  perhaps  the 
turn-turn  of  a  home-made  banjo,  all  in  the  most  perfect  time; 
changing  off  as  each  new  dancer  struck  the  rattling  end-  board, 
and  the  puffing,  tired  ones  dart  off  with  a  boisterous,  yah!  yah! 


346  BURNT  HIS  FINGERS. 

And  this  was  often  kept  up  until  taps  were  sounded  and  the 
dusky  dancers  disappeared,  as  mysteriously  as  they  came — no 
one  knew  where. 

It  was  a  scene  that  professional  minstrels  have  tried  hard, 
but  unsuccessfully,  to  imitate,  yet  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
the  soldier. 


BURNT   HIS    FINGERS. 

Major  Scranton  sat  in  front  of  his  little  band  of  325  non- 
veterans  at  Resaca,  his  leg  thrown  over  the  saddle,  his  men  all 
mounted  close  in  his  rear,  thirty  feet,  perhaps.  They  were 
awaiting  orders.  Shells  were  flying  pretty  thick,  and  often  un 
comfortably  close.  Inaction  was  nervous  work.  His  short 
stub  of  an  Indian  stone  pipe  was  between  his  teeth;  his.  hand 
sought  the  depths  of  his  pocket  and  brought  up  a  handful  of 
loose  tobacco.  Then  a  match,  briskly  applied  to  his  pants,  and, 
holding  it  aloft  in  his  sheltering  hands,  while  the  sulphur  splut 
tered  and  sizzed — a  shell  buried  itself  in  the  earth,  between  him 
and  the  men,  fifteen  feet  away.  Casting  his  eye  askance,  he 
never  moved  a  muscle,  but  kept  his  eye  on  the  smoking  hole  in 
the  ground,  whiie  the  match  burned  away,  and  suddenly,  instead 
of  being  blown  from  his  horse,  the  blazing  match  reached  his 
fingers,  and  took  hold  sharp.  The  shell  was  forgotten  in  his 
efforts  to  shake  the  pain  from  his  fingers,  and  the  roar  of  laugh 
ter  that  broke  the  spell  would  have  drowned  the  noise  of  the 
exploding  shell.  It  was  a  mean  thing  to  laugh  at,  but  the  boys 
couldn't  help  it,  and  the  major  was  too  good-natured  to  maker 
any  remarks. 


TAKING    OBSERVATIONS.  347 

While  Hood's  rear  guard  (Forrest's  cavalry)  and  Croxton's 
brigade  were  confronting  each  other  at  Richland  Creek,  De 
cember,  1864,  a  little  of  the  grim  humor  of  war  occurred. 

The  troops  were  under  cover  of  the  trees,  but  the  artillery 
was  having  a  savage  duel.  Captain  T.  W.  Johnston,  then  of 
Croxton's  staff,  was  near  the  creek,  and,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Ben.  Smith,  was  taking  observations.  A  cannon  ball  cut  off  the 
limb  of  a  tree,  which  fell  directly  upon  Captain  Johnston.  A 
sharp  bud  struck  the  Captain  in  the  corner  of  his  eye,  breaking 
his  glasses  and  causing  the  blood  to  flow  quite  freely.  The 
sharp,  pricking  sensation  led  him  to  believe,  for  a  moment,  that 
he  had  been  hit  by  a  bullet.  Clapping  his  hand  to  the  back  of 
his  head,  he  felt  sure  he  should  find  a  hole  where  it  had  come 
out,  and,  at  the  same  time  he  sat  down  by  a  tree  with  the  fullest 
expectation  of  expiring  in  a  few  minutes.  But  he  very  soon^ 
discovered  he  was  not  much  hurt,  and,  jumping  to  his  feet,  said: 
"I  reckon  I  hadn't  better  die  yet;  I'll  put  it  off  a  week;  changed 
my  mind." 

A  few  minutes  later  a  staff  officer  from  General  Wilson 
came  riding  down.  He  looked  around,  talked  a  little  and  set 
out  on  an  easy  gallop  back  to  headquarters,  down  the  open 
woods  road.  Just  then  a  long  shell  came  whirling  end  over  end 
from  the  enemy's  artillery,  making  that  peculiar  music  so  often 
heard  at  such  times,  and  passed  very  near  Colonel  Ben  and 
Captain  Tom.  Quick  witted  but  deliberate  spoken  old  Ben 
speaks  out:  "By  crimus,  if-the-Cap'n-don't-hurry-up-that-ball-'ll 
overtake-him." 


348  MUTTON   AND    TURKEY — "HERE'S  TOUR  MULE." 

At  Perryville  the  command  had  been  short  of  rations  of 
fresh  meat  until  after  the  battle,  and  during  the  night  preced 
ing  sharp  foragers  only  had  been  able  to  provide  themselves 
with  meat. 

Going  over  to  company  M,  I  found  Captain  Tom  had  pre 
ceded  me,  probably  following  the  same  scent. 

"Hello  Tom!  what  you  got  ?" 

"Oh,  the  boys  have  been  out  skirmishing;  found  an  old  sheep 
that  couldn't  get  away;  sit  down  and  have  some." 

It  smelt  good,  and  I  sat  down.  But  somehow  that  "couldn't 
get  away"  haunted  me,  and,  with  its  dry,  leathery  appearance, 
my  appetite  was  quickly  appeased. 

Other  companies,  more  fortunate,  had  captured  a  number 
of  grasshopper  fed  turkeys,  that  neglected  to  "roost  high"  and 
the  smell  of  burnt  feathers,  roast  turkey  and  things  reminded 
one  of  a  premature  Thanksgiving;  and  the  quiet  but  voracious 
circles  around  those  camp-fires  all  night  told  plainly  how  men 
would  rather  eat  than  sleep. 

But,  oh!  that  horrid  muddy  water.  What  wouldn't  we 
give  for  a  pail  of  clear  water  for  our  coffee,  and  to  moisten  our 
lips  and  throats. 

"We'll  have  it  to-morrow,  or  die  trying,"  was  our  comment. 


"HERE'S  YOUR  MULE." 

Soldiers  who  were  through  the  East  Tennessee  campaign  of 
1863-4,  November  to  February,  used  to  admire  the  handsome 
mule  teams  connected  with  General  Elliott's  headquarters  and 


"HERE'S  YOUR  MULE."  349 

wondered  where  he  got  them.  They  were  of  good  size,  round 
as  a  barrel,  white  as  snow  or  black  as  ink,  and  as  playful,  when 
at  rest,  as  a  lot  of  kittens. 

With  General  McCook's  scouts  were  twenty-four  men  from 
the  second  Michigan  cavalry.  Sixteen  of  them  under  Sergeant 
Brooks,  were  sent  off  on  a  scout  below  Fair  Garden,  to  ascer 
tain  the  plans  of  the  enemy,  the  location,  or  any  other  intelligence. 
Very  early  in  the  morning  they  came  on  to  the  trail  of  a  scouting 
foraging  party,  and,  following  on  cautiously,  came  suddenly 
upon  them  feeding  five  teams  of  mules,  six  in  each  team.  The 
foragers  were  dismounted  men  from  Longstreet's  Richmond 
soldiers.  Looking  them  over  our  boys  saw  there  were  twenty  of 
them. 

"That's  not  enough  odds  to  talk  about,"  said  the  sergeant* 
and  they  dashed  among  them,  capturing  with  out  hurting  any 
one.  The  Richmond  soldiers  felt  terribly  chagrined  at  being 
caught  napping  by  western  Yankees;  but  they  were  loaded  into 
the  wagons  and  hurried  out  of  the  country,  the  object  of  the 
scout  having  been  accomplished  through  information  gathered 
from  loyal  citizens  and  negroes  living  in  that  territory. 

The  Confederates  had  loaded  the  wagons  with  hams,  bacon, 
and  meal  and  were  ready  to  leave,  little  dreaming  there  were 
Yankees  within  fifty  miles  of  them.  The  provisions  were 
dumped  in  a  pile  beside  the  road  and  the  citizens  told  to  go  and 
get  their  "truck." 

Returning  to  Fair  Garden,  General  Elliott  was  met  with  all 
the  cavalry,  on  their  way  to  that  battle.  Riding  up  to  the  Gen 
eral,  "Here's  your  mule,"  said  the  sergeant,  and  from  the  thirty 


350  DESTROYING  PONTOONS. 

mules  General  Elliott,  through  his  quartermaster,  selected  a 
team  of  six  that  were  noted  all  through  the  army  for  their 
beauty. 


DESTROYING    PONTOONS. 

The  following  reminiscence  was  related  by  Marshman 
Maxon,  of  company  A,  second  Michigan  cavalry,  at  their 
reunion  February  22,  1883,  and  had  it  not  been,  in  part,  already 
familiar  to  us,  we  fear  the  story  would  have  seemed  too  much 
like  fiction  to  have  been  received  as  proper  matter  for  a 
volume  which  we  have  studied  faithfully  to  keep  within  the 
bounds  of  truth: 

"On  the  6th  of    October,  1864,  while  we  were    encamped 
near  Florence,  Alabama,"  began  Mr.  Maxon,  "watching  Hood's 
movements,    General   Croxton  requested  Colonel  Smith  to  ask 
for  volunteers  to  go    down    the    river    in    canoes    to    cut    the 
pontoons.     Only  six   men  were  needed,  but  half  the  regiment 
were  ready  to  go.     Besides  me  there  were  Joseph  Jones,  Alfred 
F"oy,  Joseph  Gage,  James    Dodard   and    Jerry    Mahoney  who 
were  accepted,  and  at  midnight  we  were  on  the  way  and  had 
pressed  a  citizen  into  the  service  as  guide.     Whether  the  old 
fellow  knew  better  or  not  we  never  knew,  but  he  took  us  down 
on  one  side  of   an  island,  of    which  we  had  no  previous  inti 
mation.     Our    party    went    in    two  log  canoes  that  were  little 
more  than  square  sticks  of  timber,  sharpened  at  each  end  and 
dug  out  inside  enough  to  admit  of  a  board   about    twelve    or 
fifteen  inches  wide,  which  was  kept  in    the  bottom,  generally 
to  keep  you  dry,  but,  in  our  case,  it  proved  quite  a  convenience 
in  bailing  the  canoe  when  it  tipped   over,  as  we   frequently  did 


DESTROYING     PONTOONS.  351 

in  going  down  the  rapids.  At  such  times  we  frequently  stood 
up  against  the  strong  current  of  cold  water,  and,  righting  our 
craft,  lifted  the  boards  from,  one  end,  and,  presto!  the  water 
rushed  out  at  the  other  end  and  in  we  clambered  again.  This 
was  probably  repeated  five  or  six  times  before  we  had  passed 
Muscle  Shoals,  with  its  sharp  breaks,  whirling  eddies  and 
projecting  rocks.  When  we  had  passed  that  terrible  ordeal  and 
shot  out  into  the  dark  current,  of  about  seven  miles  an  hour, 
I  think  every  man  of  us  would  rather  have  gone  through  a 
sharp  battle  than  attempted  such  a  trip  again.  To  add  to  our 
discomfort  the  rain  was  pouring  down  piteously,  and  we  were 
becoming  chilled  from  our  baths. 

"We  were  to  strike  the  bridge  at  three  o'clock  a.  m.,  and 
judging  of  time  by  what  we  had  passed  through  we  concluded 
it  must  he  near  that  now;  so,  paddling  up  to  land,  we  climbed 
out  and,  striking  a  match,  found  we  were  too  early  by  an  hour, 
and  probably  not  far  from  the  bridge.  Rebel  camp  fires  could 
be  seen  reflected  against  the  sky,  not  far  below. 

"Waiting  another  half  hour  we  headed  down  the  river  and 
soon  discovered  that  instead  of  a  pontoon  bridge  we  had  a 
trestle  to  encounter;  and  then  for  the  first  time  realized  that 
we  had  been  passing  along  between  an  island  and  the  main 
land,  on  the  Confederate  side  of  the  river.  We  shot  under  the 
bridge  without  noise  and  passing  below  about  two  miles  landed, 
turning  loose  our  old  'Secesh'  friend,  wishing  him  good-night, 
and  set  out  for  camp,  where  we  reported  next  night  after  a  long, 
weary,  hungry  march,  dodging  the  enemy's  scouts. 

"Then  a  second  detail  was  asked  for,  but  not  so  readily 
filled  since  the  actual  hazards  of  the  undertaking  were  better 


352  -DESTROYING  PONTOONS. 

known.  But,  as  I  did  not  like  to  leave  a  job  until  I  had 
done  something,  I  volunteered  the  second  time,  with  most  of  the 
men  who  had  gone  with  me  on  the  first  trip,  one  or  two 
backing  out  and  others  taking  their  places.  The  same  shooting 
the  rapids,  half  the  time  in  the  water,  was  repeated,  and  we  neared 
the  bridge  on  the  pontoon  side  of  the  island  and  kept  the  two 
canoes  side  by  side  until  within  sight  of  the  bridge.  Then,  separ 
ating,  each  canoe  darted  towards  either  end  of  the  bridge,  and  with 
one  man  standing  in  the  bow,  with  a  sharp  hatchet,  we  expected 
to  cut  the  lines  and  float  the  greater  part  down  the  river. 
There  was  a  strong  light  glaring  from  the  banks  at  either 
end  and  a  small  train  of  army  wagons  were  crossing.  It  was 
an  exciting  moment.  Capture  meant  death,  as  marauders. 
Swiftly  glide  the  frail  boats,  nearer,  and  it  seemed  as  if 
this  time  our  eyes  must  surely  catch  sight  of  the  lines, 
when,  a  sudden  shock,  a  splash,  and,  I  saw  my  two 
comrades  plunged  into  the  rushing  torrent,  and  felt  the 
boat  giving  way  beneath  my  feet,  swing  round,  and,  as  I  felt 
myself  going,  I  caught  sight  of  a  big  line  and  struck  it  with 
my  hatchet.  The  next  instant  I  found  myself  swimming,  and 
heard  our  canoe  roll  beneath  one  of  the  pontoons,  rolling  as  a 
square  piece  of  timber  would  naturally  roll  when  swept 
broadside  to  the  current  underneath  a  flat  bottomed  boat. 
The  noise  could  be  heard  a  long  distance,  and  we  felt  that  the 
pickets  would  be  down  upon  us  in  no  time.  Swinging  quietly 
to  the  canoe  we  all  caught  hold  and  floated  silently  down  the 
stream  with  camp  fires  and  burning  buildings  lighting  up  the 
bank,  glaring  out  on  to  the  river  and  casting  weird  flitting 
shadows  on  the  dark  clouds  above — all  for  our  benefit  (?). 


DESTROYING     PONTOONS.  353 

"It  appeared  that  the  marVin  the  bow  of  the  boat,  Jos.  Gage, 
did  not  see  the  line.  It  was  not  where  he  was  looking  for  it 
and  it  caught  him  under  the  chin,  lifting  him  clear  of  the  canoe 
as  it  swung  around  and  was  carried  under.  My  stroke  cut  the 
line  about  half  off  so  that  it  sagged  a  little,  and  the  men  in  the 
other  canoe  cut  the  line  entirely  off,  but  lost  their  boat  and 
climbed  on  to  one  of  the  pontoons. 

"Although  the  bridge  sagged  it  was  found  to  be  anchored 
with  chains,  as  well  as  ropes,  so  that  our  expedition,  after  all,  was 
little  better  than  a  failure,  delaying  Hood  only  two  days. 

"The  three  men  were  captured  on  the  pontoon  next  morn 
ing  when  the  planks  were  being  replaced  to  cover  the  gaps 
caused  by  the  sag. 

"When  the  pickets  came  on  to  the  bridge  to  see  what  had 
happened,  one  cried  out,  'The  line's  broke — no,  cut!  that'b  an 
other  d —  Yankee  trick.' 

"The  boys  were  placed  in  a  log  prison  by  themselves,  with 
strict  orders  to  the  guards  not  to  allow  other  prisoners  to  be  put 
with  them,  but  this  order  was  broken  in  the  night,  and  the  three 
prisoners,  by  disguising  themselves,  helped  by  the  escape  of 
three  other  prisoners  through  the  roof,  succeeded  in  saving  their 
necks  for  the  prison  pen.  But  as  for  us  three  poor  devils  float 
ing  down  that  cold  stream,  for  two  or  three  miles,  clinging  to 
the  canoe,  we  felt  that  we  were  getting  more  baths  than  we  had 
bargained  for.  At  last  we  drifted  on  to  an  island  and  righted 
our  canoe.  Then  we  moved  cautiously  on  down  the  stream^ 
until  the  fires  along  the  river  were  all  left  behind  and  we  moved 
noiselessly  toward  shore.  Seeing  something  white,  like  a  snow 
bank,  we  determined  to  investigate,  hoping  to  find  a  place  to 


354  DESTROYING    PONTOONS. 

crawl  in  until  morning.  Creeping  by  the  bank,  and  on  our 
hands  and  knees  cautiously,  when  within  ten  feet  of  us  we  saw  a 
man,  stooping  over  a  smoldering  fire,  from  which  a  white  bank 
of  smoke  was  floating  away,  and  the  man  was  trying  to  fan  it  to 
a  flame  with  his  breath.  We  saw  that  he  was  a  soldier,  and 
evidently  an  outpost,  and  probably  not  alon<\  Touching  my 
comrades,  I  signaled  them  to  back  out,  and  back  we  went,  feet 
foremost,  like  three  great  crawfish,  into  the  water  and  down  we 
floated  until  we  were  about  eight  miles  below  the  bridge.  Here 
we  were  to  have  been  met  by  an  escort  of  our  own  men,  but  we 
waited  about  in  the  woods  until  three  o'clock  next  day  when  we 
set  out,  alone,  without  rations,  without  arms,  in  an  enemy's 
country,  and  no  maps  or  guides.  We  had  not  gone  far  when 
we  discovered  a  camp  of  Confederates,  and  captured  a  man 
with  a  basket  of  provisions  for  General  S.  D.  Lee.  This  we 
took  back  into  the  swamp  and  soon  put  it  where  it  would  do  the 
most  good — the  first  food  we  had  eaten  since  we  left  camp. 

"That  evening  we  approached  some  scattering  houses,  and 
found  one  of  them  occupied  by  a  negro.  While  there  we  saw 
some  rebel  soldiers  go  into  one  of  the  houses  for  supper,  and  we 
concluded  it  was  not  safe  to  remain,  so  we  crept  along  by  the 
fence  and  when  near  the  houses  heard  some  one  say  'whoa.' 
We  had  only  seen  horses  there  and  the  voice  was  like  one  from 
the  grave.  I  was  in  the  advance  and  dropped  among  the  weeds, 
close  beside  the  road.  Presently  the  voice  said,  'Come  on,  boys, 
and  the  soldiers  came  out,  put  spurs  to  their  horses  and  passed 
within  fifteen  feet  of  me,  and  as  it  was  not  yet  dark,  I  felt  my 
time  had  surely  come,  but  they  were  looking  down  the  road  and 
passed  me  by. 


DESTROYING    PONTOONS.  355 

"We  crept  back  to  the  negro's  quarters  and  stayed  with 
him  until  twelve  midnight,  when  he  faithfully  led  us  out  on 
our  way,  for  ten  miles,  then,  directing  us  as  best  he  could,  re 
turned,  to  be  at  home  by  daylight,  fearing  to  be  absent  after 
ward.  Wearily  that  day  wore  on,  as  we  dodged  about  from 
clearing  to  wood,  and  from  wood  across  clearing,  taking  the 
road  when  we  could  see  for  long  distances,  and  avoiding  it  in 
suspicious  looking  places;  often  crossing  fresh  tracks,  but  meet 
ing  no  one  until  night,  when  we  suddenly  came  upon  half  a 
dozen  infantry  resting  in  an  old  deserted  house.  Our  clothing 
was  turned  wrong  side  out,  and  we  began  to  pass  ourselves  off 
as  Georgia  cavalry,  when  one  of  the  boys  weakened,  and  to  a 
^direct  question  answered:  'Second  Michigan  cavalry.' 

"Like  a  flash  six  rifles  came  to  the  shoulder  and — 'surren 
der.' 

"What  else  could  we  do  ?  Our  hands  went  up,  and  then 
we  all  sat  down  together,  and  they  shared  with  us  the  best  they 
had,  remarking,  'We  have  heard  the  second  Michigan  always 
treat  their  prisoners  well;  we'll  do  the  best  we  can  by  you,  boys,' 
and  soon  we  set  out  for  Florence,  and  were  taken  before  Gen 
eral  Stovall,  provost-marshal.  His  first  question  was: 

'"Where've  you  been?' 

"  'Down  the  lower  ford,  where  we  got  cut  off  and  were  try 
ing  to  make  our  way  back  to  camp.' 

"'That's  a  lie.     How  far  will  Hood  get  north  ?' 

"'About  to  Duck  river.' 

"  'Ha!     He  will  drive  you  d —  Ydnkees  across  the  Ohio.' 

"'Perhaps.' 

"  'Do  you  know  who  it  was  tried  to  cut  our  pontoons  ?' 

"'I  do  not.' 


356  DESTROYING    PONTOONS. 

"  'Well,  if  it's  any  satisfaction  to  you,  we've  got  three  of 
them,  and  the  other  three  were  drowned.  Sergeant,  bring  them 
to  me  again  in  the  morning.' 

"Next  day  we  saw  the  old  citizen  whom  we  had  compelled 
to  guide  us  down  the  river  and  he  recognized  us.  This  was  a, 
new  danger.  He  was  a  prisoner,  on  suspicion,  and  wanted  us- 
to  go  with  him  to  clear  him  of  the  accusation  of  being  a  Union 

spy- 

"'You  are  mistaken,  sir;  we  did  not  come   down  the  river. r 

"  'I  knew  if  he  told  his  story  to  the  general  our  game  would 
be.  up,  so  I  got  acquainted  with  one  of  my  guards,  a  kind  hearted 
fellow,  and  throwing  myself  on  his  mercy,  told  him  all,  and 
begged  him  to  go  and  tell  the  old  fool  to  keep  still — he  would 
get  clear  in  a  few  days.  The  guard  hesitated  a  moment,  and 
said,  'I  believe  I  will  do  it'— an<l  he  did. 

"From  Florence  we  were  taken  to  Corinth,  and  on  to 
Meridian,  and  here  we  got  our  first  glimpse  of  that  perfect  hell 
upon  earth — a  prison  pen. 

"It  was  dark  when  we  arrived.  The  old  gate  that  opened 
into  the  stockade  pen  squeaked  on  its  hinges  as  it  opened  for 
our  admission,  and  there,  huddled  together  in  little  groups,  in 
the  open  air,  mud  knee  deep,  crouched  1,200  miserable  beings 
in  human  form,  clothing  in  shreds;  legs  and  arms  half  bare; 
coatless,  hatless;  leaning  forward  over  little  miserable  fires, 
their  hands  shading  their  eyes,  they  glared  at  us  like  fiends 
from  the  infernal  regions,  and  I  shuddered  as  I  thought — must 
I,  too,  be  one  of  those  ?  Then  the  gate  closed  with  a  bang,  and 
the  startling  cry  of  'Fresh  fish!'  rang  close  in  our  ears.  Next 
we  knew  a  piece  of  clothing  was  cut  away  from  our  scanty  gar- 


WIRT    ADAMS.  357 

ments;  then  another,  and  another,  until  we  were  arrayed  as 
nearly  like  the  others  as  possible.  Then  a  voice  whispered. 
'You  must  defend  yourselves,  or  they  will  strip  you,'  and  we 
soon  learned  what  was  expected  of  'Fresh  fish.'  After  a  day 
or  two  we  were  considered  initiated,  and  left  alone. 

"To  tell  the  horrors  of  that  place  would  fill  a  book,  and  I 
don't  care  to  recall  them,  and  will  skip  the  fare,  the  filth  and 
the  famine;  the  deaths  by  hundreds  and  the  living  deaths  in 
heaps,  trying  to  keep  each  other  warm;  only  referring  to  the 
miserable,  drunken  brute  in  command,  as  a  coward,  who  never 
dared  to  meet  men  in  the  open  field  of  battle,  but  trembled  at 
every  unusual  noise,  fearing  a  revolt. 

"After  being  shifted  to  Cahaba,  Alabama,  and  several  other 
places,  some  of  them  not  so  bad,  some  worse,  we  at  last  were 
sent  on  our  way  to  be  exchanged  at  Memphis. 

"The  scene  of  that  explosion,  on  the  steamer  Sultana,  where 
1,700  prisoners  were  either  burned  to  death  or  drowned,  will 
ever  be  a  living  nightmare  from  which  I  would  gladly  close  my 
eyes,  and  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  it;  but  I  was  saved 
among  the  very  few,  and  exchanged,  just  as  the  rebellion  was 
in  its  last  throes,  and  until  to-day,  February  22,  1883, 1  have 
never  met  one  of  my  comrades  who  were  with  me  during  that 
terrible  imprisonment." 


COMPLIMENTS    TO    WIRT    ADAMS. 


When  Croxton's  brigade  was  on  its  way  from  Tuscaloosa 
General  Wirt  Adams  came  up,  on  another  road,  from  Pickens- 


358  WIRT    ADAMS. 

ville,  and  ran  into  Croxton's  rear  guard  accidentally,  neither' 
party  knowing  previously  of  the  whereabouts  of  the  other. 
Adams  had  a  force  of  two  divisions  (four  brigades),  and  was 
therefore  as  strong  as  Croxton.  The  rear  guard  was,  unfortu 
nately,  a  light  cavalry  regiment,  not  armed  with  repeating  rifles,' 
and  therefore,  lacking  in  that  self-reliance  which  characterized 
the  second  Michigan.  They  gave  way  rapidly  until  driven  in 
upon  the  brigade.  Croxton  would  not  believe  it  was  anything 
but  bushwhackers.  He  ordered  four  companies  of  the  Second, 
under  Captain  Walter  Whittemore,  back  as  rear  guard,  and 


CAPTAIN    WALTER    II.    WHITTEMORE. 

moved  on.  Two  companies  dismounted,  and  two  remained 
mounted.  These  checked  the  advance  three  times,  though  the 
enemy  made  a  gallant  charge  each  time.  The  men  of  Adams's 
division  had  evidently  never  met  these  troops  before.  One 
Confederate  officer,  near  enough  to  be  heard,  shouted,  "Come 
on,  the  d—  Yankee  cowards  won't  fight;  they'll  run!"  "But," 
said  a  correspondent  of  the  Louisville  Journal,  "they  stood 
like  statues,  and  that  murderous  fire  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
face.  And  they  would  have  stood  there  all  day  had  not  the 
enemy  become  satisfied  and  withdrawn." 


COLONEL  JOHNSTON'S  DIARY.  359 

A  southern  paper  spoke  of  it  as  "a  desperate  battle  in 
which  300  were  killed,"  but  they  did  not  mention  the  wounded. 

Soon  the  rear  guard  moved  on.  Then  it  began  to  grow 
dark,  and  they  halted  for  the  enemy  to  come  up  to  check  them 
once  more,  that  they  might  have  the  night  undisturbed.  Two 
companies  dismounted,  and  forming  behind  the  brow  of  a  hill 
waited.  Soon  the  Confederates  appeared  again  in  full  force; 
Opening  a  heavy  volley  the  enemy  again  retreated  rapidly,  and 
the  rear  guard  moved  on,  through  mud,  quicksand  and  water. 
Passing  on  until  after  dark  it  was  thought  prudent  to  ascertain 
if  the  enemy  were  following,  and  again  the  rear  guard  halted, 
and  soon  they  came,  and  by  their  conversation  it  was  apparent 
they  were  hard  hit,  for  they  were  telling  of  one  and  another 
that  had  gone  down.  They  were  halted  by  a  random  volley  in 
the  darkness,  and  abandoned  the  chase  for  the  night. 


LEAVES    FROM    A    DIARY. 


COLONEL    THOS.    W.    JOHNSTON. 


The   following    clippings,    abbreviated    from    the    diary  of 
Colonel  Thomas  W.  Johnston,  will    doubtless  prove  interesting 


360  COLONEL  JOHNSTON'S  DIARY. 

to  the  general  reader  for  the  insight  they  give  to  the  rough  life 
of  a  cavalryman,  especially  from  an  officer  who  was  too  little 
self-seeking  for  his  own  good: 

CHICKASAW,  ALABAMA,  March  17,  1865 — Was  relieved 
from  duty  at  headquarters  first  brigade,  first  division  cavalry, 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  to  accept  command  of  the  regiment 
at  the  request  of  Majors  Dickinson  and  Nicholson.  *  * 

March  18 — Assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  Received 
circular  directing  the  command  to  be  in  readiness  to  move. 
One  mule  allowed  for  each  twenty-five  men  to  pack  rations  and 
ammunition.  Six  days'  rations  of  coffee,  sugar  and  salt  packed 
in  haversacks.  Two  days'  rations  salt  meat,  three  days'  rations 
of  hard  bread.  On  the  mules  nine  days'  rations  of  coffee, 
five  days  rations  of  sugar  and  salt;  four  days'  rations  of  hard 
bread.  Drew  10,000  rounds  of  ammunition  from  Colonel  Dorr, 
eigth  Iowa,  all  worthless,  wet. 

March  20 — Weather  changed  to  wind  and  rain.  Forage 
has  given  out  and  can  take  nothing  but  hay.  Detailed  a  ser 
geant  and  eight  men  to  be  relieved  from  all  duty  but  pioneer  and 
fighting.  Turned  over  all  surplus  stores,  ordnance,  quarter 
masters',  etc.,  to  be  to  be  sent  back  to  storehouse  at  Edgefield. 
March  22 — Began  to  move  (the  division)  at  5:30  A.  M. 
The  Second,  taking  the  rear,  got  off  at  6:30.  Lost  most  ot  our 
forage,  through  neglect  of  the  commander  at  the  front,  who 
made  no  allowance  for  closing  up  after  passing  obstacles;  the 
front  continuing  to  move  on  compels  the  rear  to  gallop  to 
close  up.  Passed  through  Cherokee — two  splendid  residences 
and  about  forty  cabins  for  "niggers  and  poor  white  trash." 

March  23 — Worked  all  the  afternoon  to  get  our  trains  over 
a  bad  hill. 


COLONEL  JOHNSTON'S  DIARY.  361 

March  24 — Passed  through  Frankfort  and  had  better  roads 

.and  more  forage.  Passed  through  Russelville.  Pat ,  of 

company  C,  threatened  the  life  of  Lieutenant  Woodruff. 

April  25 — Bonner's  Plantation,  Georgia,  two  miles  north 
west  of  Carrolton.  Received  papers  containing  the  news  of 
Lee's  surrender,  and  an  armistice  between-  Sherman  and  John 
ston.  Numbers  of  Lee's  parolled  soldiers  returning  to  their 
homes. 

April  26 — Crossed  the  Chattahooche  river  and  arrived  at 
Henderson's  plantation,  Georgia,  five  miles  northwest  of  New 
man.  This  planter  claims  the  benefit  of  the  armistice;  respected 
the  same  and  slept  on  his  stoop. 

April  27 — Griffin's  plantation,  eighteen  miles  from  New 
man,  on  the  Greenville  road.  Passed  through  Newman  at 
seven  o'clock  A.  M.  Band  playing,  flags  (what's  left  of 
them)  flying;  citizens  came  out  in  their  Sunday  best,  1,500 
Confederate  soldiers  came  into  town  while  we  were  passing 
through  and  we  passed  on,  through  Hughesville  and  Rocky 
mountains. 

April  28 — Roads  and  weather  better.  Passed  through  a 
portion  of  country  quite  like  western  New  York.  Went  into 
oamp  near  the  plantation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maddox,  an  Episcopal 
minister. 

April  29 — Marched  to  Barnesville,  Georgia;  town  full  of 
ex-Confederates  returning  to  their  homes.  Went  into  camp 
near  Forsyth,  a  pretty  little  town.  This  town  is  also  filled  with 
^'Johnnies." 

April  30 — March  to  camp  near  Macon,  Georgia. 

And  here  follows   the   routine   of    camp   life,    interspersed 


362  COLONEL  JOHNSTON'S  DIARY. 

with  the  "trial  of  Pat "  for  insubordination,  the  conviction,. 

sentence  to  the  guard  house  and  camp  police  duty,  the  expiration 
of  sentence  and  later  the  attempt  of  Pat  to  "muster  out"  the 
officers  who  sat  upon  his  court  martial,  and  the  final  tragic 
death  at  the  hands  of  Captain  Vance,  in  self-defense. 

The  details  of  colored  troops'  organization,  and  their  rush 
to  the  camps  of  the  "Yankee  sojers"  to  breathe  the  new  air  of 
freedom  would  fill  a  volume. 

The  difficulty  of  attending  the  proper  restraint  of  maraud 
ing  bummers,  the  outrages,  robberies  and  general  cussedness  of 
outlaws  from  both  armies  would  fill  another  volume,  but  does 
not  properly  belong  in  these  pages. 

Captain  Tom's  method  of  disposing  of  a  disagreeable  sub 
ject  is  well  illustrated  by  his  memoranda,  made  while  a  Captain* 
at  Dandridge: 

December  24,  1863 — The  regiment  was  ordered  to  move  at- 
two  A.  M.,  without  the  sound  of  bugles;  we  go  in  advance. 
About  worn  out  with  previous  duties,  and  not  appreciating  that 
kind  of  nonsense  for  fun,  there  was  a  general  listlessness,  and  it 
was  next  to  impossible  to  arouse  the  men,  and  some  little  delay 
to  all  the  command  ensued,  causing  some  confusion.  The  major 
commanding  the  regiment  was  blowed  up  by  the  Colonel  in 
command  of  the  brigade;  the  commander  of  the  second  battalion 
in  turn  was  blowed  up,  and  in  turn  made  a  scapegoat  of  me.  I 
was  put  under  arrest.  But  about  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  just  as 
arrangements  were  being  made  for  a  fight,  and  I  had  begun  to 
congratulate  myself  on  being  out  of  one  scrape,  I  was  relieved 
'from  arrest,  ordered  to  take  command  of  my  company  and 
Soon  after  found  things  getting  interesting  on  the  skirmish  line. 


363 

Drove  the  enemy's  lines  back  and  while  waiting  for  orders  made 
coffee,  but  orders  came  and  we  began  skirmishing  again  and  drove 
the  enemy  back  about  four  miles  from  Dandridge,  when  we  were 
suddenly  attacked  in  the  rear,  the  force  in  front  having  entirely 
disappeared.  We  wheeled  to  the  rear,  and  found  the  enemy 
among  our  led  horses,  and  holding  possession  of  three  pieces  of 
our  artillery,  which  we  immediately  recaptured. 

Finding  ourselves  attacked  in  front  and  rear,  with  forces 
double  our  own,  retreat  towards  New  Market  through  the  woods 
was  all  that  was  open  to  us.  After  fighting  slowly  through  the 
woods  for  some  miles  I  was  wounded  in  the  back  of  my  calf. 
The  brigade  lost  eighty  men  and  one  piece  of  artillery  disabled. 

December  25,  1863 — Was  brought  to  New  Market  last 
night;  moved  back  balance  of  the  wounded  to  Strawberry 
Plains  this  afternoon;  stopped  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Thomas. 

December  27 — Knoxville;  arrived  here  at  four  o'clock  A.  M. 
Have  been  all  night  coming  from  the  Plains,  fifteen  miles.  This 
is  a  new  hospital  with  no  conveniences  whatever. 

January  4,  1864 — Going  home  on  wounded  leave  of  absence, 
came  to  Loudon,  thirty  miles. 

January  7 — Got  a  boat  from  Loudon  at  seven  A.  M.  ;  forty- 
first  Ohio  on  board,  going  home;  150  rebel  prisoners  on  board. 
Stopped  along  the  river  several  times  for  the  crew  to  go  and 
get  rails;  very  cold.  The  cabin  of  the  boat  is  loaded  so  heavily 
there  is  scarcely  standing  room. 

January  8 — Arrived  at  Chattanooga  at  twelve  noon.  One 
rebel  prisoner  died  on  board.  Stopped  the  boat  and  buried  him 
— gave  him  five  miimtes.  Passed  on  down  the  river  from. 
Bridgeport.  In  passing  through  the  rapids  the  boat  bounded. 


364  A  SCOUT  ON   FOOT. 

like  a  cork.     After  getting  off    the   boat   at   Bridgeport   came 
near  freezing.     Could  not  walk  and  there  were  no  fires. 

January  9 — Stevenson;  came  here  at  three  A.  M.,  just  in 
time  to  see  the  Nashville  train  leave.  Weather  very  cold. 
No  stove  in  the  car.  Several  men  perished  here  from  cold  and 
exposure.  I  shall  always  be  under  obligations  to  Captains 
Runtan,  A.  Q.  M.,  and  Rickets,  Kelly  and  Spencer. 

January  11— Arrived  at  Nashville.  Kelly  was  robbed  last 
night  of  $300. 

January  14— Left  Nashville  for  Louisville.  Was  not  allow 
ed  in  first  class  cars.  These  were  reserved  for  brigadier- 
generals,  Jew  peddlers  and  harlots. 

January  15 — Missed  connections  at  Louisville. 
January  16 — Missed  connections  at   Indianapolis.     Started 
for  Michigan  City  at  eleven  A.  M.     Freight  train   off  the  track 
at  Brookston;  waited  ten  hours. 

January  17 — Arrived    at   Michigan    City    in   the   morning. 
Had  my  wound  dressed;  changed  my  clothes,  etc. 

January  18 — Home  (Marshall,  Michigan,)  at  two  o'clock  A.  M. 
From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  it  took  fourteen  days  after 
receiving  his  furlough,  and  getting  on  the  way,  to  accomplish  a 
journey  which  can  be  made  now  in  two  or  three  days,  and  that 
during  this  time  he,  with  many  others,  was  suffering  not  only 
from  his  wound  but  from  imperfect  sanitary  accommodations 
and  the  rigors  of  a  severe  winter,  and  treated  by  railroad  men 
and  guards  like  a  lot  of  cattle. 


A  SCOUT  ON    FOOT. 

In  February,   1864,  while  the    regiment    was    stationed  at 


A     SCOUT    ON     FOOT.  365 

Waterloo,  Alabama,  a  detachment  under  Captain  T.  W.  John 
ston  with  Lieutenants  Shaw  and  Woodruff  started  out  on  foot 
to  Chickasaw  Bluffs  to  capture  a  company  said  to  be  encamped 
near  there.  A  negro  guide  led  them  to  the  spot,  but  they 
learned  their  game  was  nine  miles  further  on.  Not  to  f  e  dis 
couraged  they  set  out  through  the  darkness,  with  mud  knee 
deep  and  rain  falling.  The  rebel  scouts  were  found  near  Price's 
tanyard.  First  they  captured  two  mounted  men  riding  along 
the  road,  who  tried  to  put  Captain  Johnston  on  the  wrong  track, 
but  they  pressed  on  and  when  the  rebel  camp  fire  was  discovered 
our  boys  crept  near  and  made  a  dash.  Captain  Johnston  proved 
the  best  runner,  though  he  stumbled  over  a  log,  but  he  sprung 
to  his  feet  and  dashed  up,  shouting  with  all  the  breath  left  in 
him.  His  glasses  were  wet  and  blurred,  and  the  objects  before 
him  scarcely  distinguishable,  but  he  brandished  his  revolver  and 
shouted,  "Surrender!" — standing  all  alone  over  a  full  company 
of  now  thoroughly  cowed  rebels.  But  he  was  soon  joined  by 
his  men,  panting  for  breath,  and  the  pretended  sleepers  were 
made  to  uncover  their  faces  and  get  up. 

Throwing  the  captured  arms  and  saddles  upon  the  fire,  our 
men  locked  arms  with  their  captives  and  marched  them  back  to 
camp,  only  one  escaping  as  they  stumbled  along  in  the  dark 
ness. 

Why  some  of  our  infantry,  camped  there,  should  not  have 
been  sent  on  such  a  dismounted  expedition  was  not  explained, 
but  no  duty,  however  disagreeable  or  unreasonable,  was  ever 
shirked  by  men  of  the  Second.  It  was  an  all  night  tramp,  and 
as  they  trudged  wearily  along  the  captured  horses  were  made  to 


366  "DID  THEY  STING?" 

:do  double  duty  in  carrying  the  "lame  ducks,"  and  keeping  the 
stragglers  closed  up.  It  is  safe  to  conclude  that  no  more  scout 
ing  was  done  on  foot  by  any  of  that  party. 


* {DID  THEY  STING?" 

Among  the  absurd  things  that  were  daily  occurring  along 
the  line  of  march  of  our  army,  not  the  least  were  the  requests 
for  protection  to  private  property.  There  was  a  strong  desire 
among  our  officers  to  protect  citizens  who  were  strictly  non- 
combatants,  but  these,  unless  outspoken  Union  men,  were  not  so 
easy  to  find. 

To  suppose  that  a  general  could  turn  his  attention  from  the 
weighty  affairs  that  were  crowding  upon  his  brain,  during  a 
pending  engagement,  to  attend  to  the  loss  of  a  chicken  or  u  hive 
of  bees  was  extremely  absurd;  yet  just  such  things  were  ex 
pected,  and  almost  invariably  from  people  who  had  no  sympathy 
with  the  northern  army.  Our  generals  who  were  taken  from 
the  border  states  saw  these  absurdities  more  readily  than  the 
more  extreme  northern  men.  During  the  battle  of  Franklin,  or 
just  as  it  was  about  to  begin,  a  citizen  who  had  never  been  dis 
tinguished  to  any  alarming  extent  for  his  extreme  loyalty  to  the 
Union  cause  came  to  General  Croxton  and  said: 

"I  am  looking  for  General  Croxton." 

"Well,  I  reckon  you  are  about  as  near  him  as  you  need  to 
get,"  turning  his  head  indifferently  and  looking  him  over  dryly, 
recognized  him. 

"Well,  your  men  are  carrying  off  all   my  beehives." 


AN    INTERRUPTED    WEDDING.  367 

Turning  his  head  again   and   looking  up  at  the   man   out  of 
the  corner  of  his  eye,  he  drawled   out  in  that  peculiar  inimitable 

* 

manner  of  his,  "Did  they  ating  ?"   and   mounting  his  horse  rode 
away  to  attend  to  his  own  affairs. 


AN    INTERRUPTED  WEDDING. 

When  a  detachment  of  Croxton's  brigade,  from  the  second 
^Michigan  cavalry,  charged  across  the  bridge  in  the  night  at 
Tuscaloosa,  captured  the  artillery,  scattered  the  cadets  and  regu 
lar  Confederate  troops  stationed  there,  a  squad  of  men  hunting 
tip  Confederate  officers  came  upon  a  house  full,  with  hacks 
standing  about  the  door.  They  surrounded  the  house  and  a 
email  squad  entered,  and  without  attempting  to  frighten  the 
ladies  present  told  the  officers  they  must  leave  the  untasted 
banquet  and  report  to  General  Croxton.  The  ladies  threw 
their  arms  about  the  soldiers'  necks  and  begged  them  not  to 
take  the  officers  away.  It  is  said  that  there  were  in  this  squad 
two  or  three  rough  fellows  who  were  always  looking  out  for 
plunder  and  relieved  the  ladies  of  their  gold  watches  while 
these  appealing  demonstrations  were  being  made.  If  this  was 
true  it  was  much  regretted  by  General  Croxton  and  the  officers 
and  the  best  portion  of  the  men  of  the  Second,  but  it  was  not 
known  until  too  late,  and  the  guilty  ones  could  not  be  brought 
to  justice. 

The  officers  were  'removed,  and  the  captain,  who  had  just 
been  married,  requested  to  be  shown  to  General  Croxton's  tent. 


368  HOESE    SENSE. 

The  meeting  between  these  two  officers  was  most   affecting.     It 
appears  they  had  been  friends  in  Kentucky  before  the  war. 

"Captain,"  said  the  general,  "I  am  very  sorry  to  meet  you 
again  under  these  most  peculiar  circumstances." 

"Yes,  general,  it  is  to  me  most  trying,  I  assure  you;  and 
without  asking  anything  because  of  our  former  friendship  I 
simply  appeal  to  you  as  a  gentleman  and  an  officer,  to  hear  my 
story  and  if  possible  parole  me.  The  lady  to  whom  I  have  just 
been  married  is  sinking  into  her  grave  with  consumption.  She 
requested  this  marriage  before  she  dies  and  I  have  hoped  I 
might  prolong  her  life  by  the  comfort  she  might  gain  in  being 
my  wife  if  only  for  a  few  months.  Of  course  the  excitement  of 
this  evening  has  prostrated  her  and  I  only  ask  to  be  allowed  to 
return  and  assure  her  that  I  will  not  be  sent  to  a  northern  prison, 
but  can  remain  near  her.  I  belong  to  the  staff  of  General  For 
rest,  and  I  think  under  the  circumstances  you  need  have  no- 
fears  ot  my  violating  my  parole." 

"You  can  go;  send  an  escort  with  him,  major." 

And  the  captain  reported  promptly  at  nine  in  the  morning 
according  to  promise  and  was  given  an  indefinite  parole,  al 
though  it  was  not  then  known  that  Lee  had  surrendered  nor  that 
Lincoln  had  been  assassinated. 


,     HORSE    SENSE. 


Instances   of   the  animal    intelligence    of  the   horse    were 
almost  too  common  in  the    army    to    be    commented  upon,  yet 


HORSE    SENSE.  369 

memory  lingers  around  the  deed  of  that  noble  friend  of  man, 
and  brings  with  it  the  recollection  of  long  weary  days  and 
nights,  plodding  through  mud,  rain,  snow,  cold,  or  summer's 
heat — sweltering,  bruised,  and  hungry,  yet  faithful  and  uncom 
plaining.  Do  you  wonder  that  there  was  a  degree  of  affection 
and  sympathy  between  soldier  and  horse  that  was  of  ten  touch 
ing  in  the  extreme;  and  as  horse  and  man  were  often  compelled 
by  the  exigencies  of  war  to  part  company,  is  it  any  wonder  that 
manly  tears  dimmed  the  eye  and  the  voice  choked  as  hand  stroked 
head  or  neck  of  the  suffering  brute?  "Poor  fellow,  must  I  leave 
you  here  ?" 

"Put  him  out  of  his  misery." 

"I  can't,  boys." 

And  so  the  poor  animal  was  abandoned  by  the  roadside  to 
die  of  his  wouuds — died  for  his  country! — perhaps  alone,  but 
more  probably  upon  the  battlefield,  with  thousands  of  human 
beings  to  mingle  their  blood  with  his. 

If  the  rider  was  unhorsed,  then  the  feelings  of  the  horse 
manifested  themselves.  If  it  was  during  a  charge,  the  horse, 
true  to  his  education  and  instincts,  kept  his  place  in  the  ranks 
till  they  were  broken.  Then  if  left  to  himself,  he  was  often  seen 
looking,  in  his  mute,  appealing  way,  as  if  in  search  of  his  master. 
If  swept  along  by  the  whirlingmass  of  horsemen  he  kept  his  place 
-as  long  as  permitted  and  proved  stubborn  if  his  removal  was 
attempted  by  anyone  he  had  never  seen  before. 

An  instance  of  this  came  under  my  observation  at  Boone- 
•ville,  Mississippi.  The  enemy  had  charged  upon  the  dismounted 
men  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  for  the  fourth  or  fifth, 
time,  when  a  Confederate  officer  (said  to  have  been  a  colonel), 


370  LUCKY    ESCAPES. 

mounted  upon  a  fine  blooded  animal,  fell  from  his  horse  and  the 
horse  was  borne  along  by  his  impetuosity  through  the  ranks  of 
our  men.  Passing  near  at  the  time,  in  my  line  of  duty  as  aid- 
de-camp,  mounted,  I  reached  out  my  hand  and  caught  the  loose 
rein.  So  long  as  I  rode  along  or  near  the  front  I  had  no  diffi 
culty  in  leading  him  on  a  sharp  gallop,  but  when  I  turned  to 
wards  the  rear,  that  was  another  affair.  I  had  to  abandon  him 
to  some  one  who  had  more  time  to  fool  with  him  than  I  had. 
He  was  taken  to  camp,  however,  presented  to  me  by  Colonel 
Sheridan,  and  proved  a  fleet-footed,  valuable  animal,  but  was 
stolen  at  Rienzi  by  some  lover  of  horseflesh,  probably  for  rac 
ing  purposes. 


LUCKY    ESCAPES. 


When  the  rebel  General  Frank  Wheeler  attempted  to 
cross  into  Tennessee  on  his  big  raid  after  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga,  he  found  it  quite  difficult  to  find  a  crossing.  Our  cavalry 
was  scattered  along  in  detachments  of  one  company  or  a  bat 
talion,  according  to  the  weakness  of  the  position,  and  whenever 
Wheeler  presented  himself  he  was  im-t  with  a  sharp  resistance. 
Without  attempting  to  force  a  passage  he  passed  on  up  the  river 
until  he  got  beyond  our  men,  and  so  passed  around  our  extreme 
left.  About  twenty  miles  up  the  river  was  company  K,  under 
Captain  Baker.  Two  citizens  came  into  camp  and  reported  a 
company  organizing  across  the  river,  and  Lieutenant  Sanborn, 
with  ten  men  and  the  two  citizens,  was  sent  to  break  them  up. 


LUCKY    ESCAPES.  371 

It  was  a  foolhardy  piece  of  business  and  would  not,  probably, 
at  that  time  have  received  the  sanction  of  the  officers  higher  in 
command,  but  that  company  never  seemed  to  tire  of  fighting 
and  were  ready  to  volunteer  for  anything,  especially  if  there 
was  a  chance  for  plunder  on  the  way.  Crossing  over,  they  had 
not  passed  out  of  sight  but  a  short  time  when  Captain  Baker 
and  his  reserves  were  fired  upon;  and,  looking  across  the  river, 
there  appeared  a  large  force  of  rebel  cavalry.  The  fire  was  re 
turned  with  spirit,  and  the  enemy  passed  on  up  the  river  in 
search  of  an  easier  ford.  The  little  scouting  party  was  of  course 
at  once  given  up  as  captured,  and  Baker  passed  many  hours  of 
unpleasant  suspense,  cursing  his  folly  in  sending  them,  and  ex 
pecting  certain  court-martial  and  disgrace.  But  the  scouts  had 
taken  another  road,  and  were  far  enough  away  from  the  river 
to  miss  even  the  sound  of  firing  in  their  rear.  Passing  down 
the  valley  about  ten  miles  they  came  upon  the  headquarters  of 
the  organizing  rebels,  and  dashed  upon  them,  capturing  ten, 
but  were  not  quick  enough  to  prevent  seven  from  escaping, 
firing  over  their  shoulders  as  they  ran.  The  horses  of  the  whole 
party  were  captured  and,  taking  another  route,  they  set  out 
hastily  for  camp,  expecting  every  moment  to  be  followed  by 
some  new  force,  but  they  reached  the  ford  in  safety  long  after- 
dark  and  were  beginning  to  recross,  when  they  were  fired  upon 
by  their  own  men  and  it  was  some  minutes  before  Captain 
Baker  could  be  persuaded  they  were  his  scouts.  At  last  he 
asked,  "Is  that  you,  Sanborn  ?"  and  the  reply,  "Yes,  you  d— 
fool,  what  you  firing  at!"  came  echoing  across  the  river  with  a  dis 
tinctness  truly  marvelous.  As  the  scouts  had  not  heard  of 
Wheeler,  and  the  reserves  had  long  since  given  them  upas 


372  LUCKY    ESCAPES. 

captured,  that  meeting  on  the  river  bank  can  only  be  partly 
imagined.  It  is  safe  to  conclude  that  Captain  Baker  never 
sent  out  scouts  again  without  consulting  those  higher  in 
authority. 

Among  the  earliest  receipts  of  recruits  in  1862  was  a  young 
boy  soldier.  His  reception  by  his  brother,  a  lieutenant  in  the 
regiment  (Darrow),  was  not  of  the  most  welcome  character. 
The  elder  brother  felt  that  one  out  of  the  family  was  enough, 
and,  with  the  utmost  kindness  of  heart,  he  regretted  the  step 
taken  by  the  younger  brother,  but  endeavored  to  make  the  best 
of  it,  and  kept,  a  watchful  restraint  over  him. 

John  Morgan  came  into  Kentucky  in  December,  1862,  and 
found  the  State  comparatively  free  from  Union  forces.  Sweep 
ing  north  he  entered  Glasgow,  and  his  doings  there  and  at  Ba 
con  Creek  have  been  noted  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Among 
Morgan's  captures  at  Glasgow  was  young  Darrow.  The  prison 
ers  were  marched  up  the  street  and  halted  by  the  curbstone  to 
await  orders.  Whiskey  had  heen  flowing  freely  among  the 
officers  and  men  of  Morgan's  command,  and  while  some  were  dis 
posed  to  be  facetious  others  were  ugly,  and  went  swaggering 
and  swearing  up  and  down.  It  was  now  dark  and  Darrow 
noticed  with  keen  eyes  his  guards  were  becoming  indifferent 
and  reckless.  Watching  his  opportunity  he  quietly  slipped 
from  the  ranks.  No  one  appeared  to  notice  him.  He  backed 
away  a  step  or  two.  No  one  said  halt,  and  putting  on  a  busi 
ness  like  air  he  walked  away,  jumped  over  a  fence  and  found 
himself  free.  Then  came  the  trouble.  The  enemy  had  pickets 
upon  every  road.  Which  way  the  command  had  gone  he  could 


WEAER'S  COVE.  373 

only  guess.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  had  made  a 
successful  escape  through  their  picket  lines  and  found  a  hiding 
place  in  the  chamber  of  a  good  Union  man  by  the  name  of 
Ellington  Beck,  some  four  miles  out  of  Glasgow,  where  he  re 
mained  till  Morgan's  forces  had  marched  from  that  section,  then 
young  Darrow  made  his  single  handed  march  on  foot  and  joined 
his  own  company  at  Mumsfordville,  Kentucky,  unharmed  exc*ept 
some  bruises  by  the  fall  of  his  horse  during  the  skirmish,  where 
his  coat  was  shot  through  the  right  side  and  right  sleeve,  one  ball 
passing  through  the  side,  cutting  off  a  part  of  the  suspender. 
He  had  been  reported  among  the  missing  and  as  he  crept  into 
camp  at  midnight  after  three  days'  absence,  and  made  himself 
known  to  his  brother,  that  meeting  in  the  dark  can  easier  be 
imagined  than  described. 


WEAER'S  COVE. 

Early  in  January,  1864,  when  part  of  our  forces  (cavalry) 
were  stationed  on  the  Little  Tennessee  and  the  enemy  were 
holding  Marysville  and  Severeville,  sixteen  scouts  belonging  to 
General  Ed  McCook's  headquarters,  left  camp  in  the  afternoon 
and  set  out  by  a  circuitous  route  for  Tuckaleeche  Cove,  which 
they  reached  a  little  before  the  mountains  shut  out  the  sunlight. 
Passing  rapidly  up  the  little  stream  that  ripples  through  this 
quiet  nook,  the  early  twilight  found  them  at  the  head  of  the 
cove;  and,  alighting  from  their  horses,  a  breathing  spell  was 
taken  and  a  consultation  was  held.  They  were  in  among  the 


374  WEAER'S  COVE. 

Union  men  of  East  Tennessee,  men  who  knew  what  it  cost  to 
be  known  as  "loyal" — a  plain,  hardy  set  of  mountaineers,  who 
lost  no  opportunity  of  gathering  about  their  Yankee  friend* 
and  offer  aid  whenever  needed.  And  this  time  they  had 
exciting  news  to  tell.  The  Confederates  had  sent  a  squad  of 
twenty  men  into  Weaer's  Cove  and  that  afternoon  they  had 
gone  in,  -'just  a  bit  above,"  and  were  foraging  upon  the  poor- 
settlers. 

The  good  wives  and  daughters  prepared  a  hearty  supper 
for  our  boys,  served  out  upon  the  jutting  rocks  near  their 
dwelling. 

The  scouts  were  mostly  second  Michigan  men,  in  charge  of 
a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  they  were  mostly  young  men, 
mere  boys  some  of  them.  Robert  McDougall  was  looked  upon 
as  a  leader  among  them,  and  to  him  two  of  the  boys  came, 
and  in  a  whispered  consultation  asked  to  be  allowed  to  go  over 
into  Weaer's  Cove  and  ascertain  as  to  the  truth  of  the  rumor. 
These  were  Robert  Crotty  and  a  boy  from  the  second  Iowa 
cavalry  named  Farnsworth.  The  latter  was  an  effeminate  look 
ing  boy,  with  fair  face,  blue  eyes  and  an  altogether  too  delicate 
look  for  so  daring  an  undertaking. 

"It  is  getting  very  dark,"  said  McDougall,  "and  the  horses 
are  too  much  jaded  for  more  work  to-night  than  is  absolutely 
necessary." 

But  they  concluded  to  go,  and  taking  with  them  eight  of 
the  home  guards  they  set  out  on  foot. 

"Remember,  now,  boys,  we  are  nearly  in  rear  of  the  enemy, 
•» 
and  a  mistake  might  be   fatal  to  us   all,"   said   Mack.     "If  you 

discover  them,  return  at  once  that  we  may  all  act  together." 


375 

"All  right,"  and  away  they  went  out  silently  into  the 
mountain  passes. 

The  fires  were  put  out  (all  "but  one,  that  was  thought  suffi 
ciently  obscured  by  the  overhanging  rocks),  and  folding  them 
selves  in  their  blankets,  and  hugging  their  guns  in  their  arms 
they  reclined  against  rocks  and  trees  to  await  the  return  of 
their  scouts. 

Says  McDougall :  "Some  hours  had  passed,  during  which 
T  had  slept  with  one  eye  and  an  ear  open,  when  I  felt  a  gentle 
touch,  and  looking  up  saw  the  anxious  face  of  a  woman,  as  the 
faintly  glimmering  camp  fire  shone  upon  her.  Bending  over 
me  she  whispered:  'Isn't  it  time  they  were  back?  It  is  now 
past  midnight.' 

"  'Yes,  they  should  be  here;  have  you  heard  any  firing  ?' 

"  'No.' 

"  'The  air  is  very  clear;  we  could  hear  it  if  there  had  been.* 

'"I  think  so.' 

"Presently  a  noise  was  heard.  The  men  sprang  to  shelter 
ed  points.  A  clatter  of  hoofs  was  heard  on  the  rocks  above. 

"  'The  men  took  no  horses  with  them.' 

"  'No,'  she  faintly  whispered. 

"Louder  came  the  clatter. 

"'Halt!'  'Friends,' rang  out  the  cheery  voice  of  Crotty 
and  before  we  had  time  to  say  more  they  were  among  us, 
with  seventeen  unarmed  Johnnies  and  twenty  good  mules  and 
horses. 

"  'Any  one  hurt?' 

"  'No.  You  see,  Mack,  we  did  intend  to  come  back,  as  we 
said,  but  when  we  reached  the  top  of  the  mountain  we  saw  a 


370 

fire,  down  in  the  cove,  and  we  crawled  along  on  our  hands  and 
knees,  expecting  every  moment  to  come  upon  their  guard,  but 

when  we  got  near  the .  house  of  Mr. ,  we  came  suddenly 

upon  those  chaps  all  snoozing  around  a  comfortable  fire,  and 
a  little  to  one  side  were  all  these  mules  and  horses.  We  looked 
again,  hardly  believing'they  had  no  sentinel  out  in  such  an  open 
place. 

"'Presently  I  crawled  up  to  the  nearest  one  and  touched 
him.  He  opened  his  eyes  and  looked  into  my  navy.  He  knew 
what  to  expect  and  quietly  got  up.  I  touched  the  next.  The 
same  surprise  and  the  same  result,  and  the  next,  until  every  one 
of  them  stood  up  like  a  row  of  cobs  and  not  a  word  was  spoken. 

"  'No  more  in  sight,  so  we  drew  the  wagons  together, 
broke  the  guns  and  set  fire  to  the  heap.  Then  we  started  back, 
bringing  the  horses  and  men  with  us.  As  we  passed  the  house 
Farnsworth  asked  me  if  any  one  had  been  to  the  house.  "No." 
"Then  I  am  going  back."  "Don't;  we  have  got  all  we  can  attend 
to  now,  besides,  you  may  get  hurt."  But  he  was  bound  to  go; 
so  he  hitched  his  horses  under  a  tree  and  that's  the  last  we  have 
seen  of  him. 

"After  waiting  some  little  time,  we  got  anxious  and  were 
about  to  go  in  search  of  him,  when  we  again  heard  the  clatter 
of  hoofs,  and  Farnsworth  dashed  among  us. 

"  'There,'  said  he,  'that's  what  I  got,'  and  he  threw  down  a 
large  revolver,  and  an  old  wallet. 

"  'I  killed  the  cuss,  and  took  these  from  him.  Let's  see, 
what's  this? — some  Conf ed — what's  this  f — an  order  to  Sergeant 

,  to  take  twenty  men  and  go  into  Weaer's  Cove.  By 

Border  brigadier-general.' 

"  'Now,  Farnsworth  tell  us  what  you  did.' 


WEAER'S  COVE.  377 

"  'Well,  when  I  got  to  the  house  I  looked  through  the 
window  and  saw  an  old  woman,  elbows  on  her  knees,  face  in  her 
hands,  bending  over  a  dimly  burning  fire  of  pine  knots.  Just 
back  of  her  I  thought  I  saw  a  pair  of  boots  and  what  looked 
like  two  men  under  a  blanket.  I  tapped  on  the  window.  The 
woman  straightened  up  and  said,  "What's  wanted  ?"  "Tell  those 
men  to  come  out;"  and  I  stepped  from  the  window  so  as  not  to 
be  seen.  Two  men  got  up  and  came  to  the  door.  As  one  of 
them  stepped  on  to  the  stoop  I  could  just  see  his  outlines;  his 
hand  was  down  by  his  side.  I  brought  up  my  old  Spencer  and 
said  Surrender.  He  raised  his  arm  and  fired  into  my  face.  The 
ball  just  grazed  my  temple.  I  guess  you  can  see  the  burnt 
mark  there.  It  staggered  me,  but,  before  he  could  fire  again,  I 
fired.  He  fell  on  the  floor.  Then  I  heard  the  other  man  rush 
for  the  back  door  and  I  hurried  around  and  headed  him  off. 
Back  he  came  to  the  front  door  and  before  I  could  get  a  chance 
at  him  he  was  gone,  out  in  the  dark.  Then  I  searched  my  man. 
Only  one  shot  out  of  his  revolver.  A  brave  soldier,  and  he 
deserved  a  better  fate,  but  I  had  to  do  it.  Why  didn't  he  sur 
render  ?' 

"Well,  Farnsworth,  you  have  done  well,  but  you  took  too 
many  chances.  And  now,  boys,  this  detail  calls  for  twenty  men. 
We  have  but  seventeen  here.  The  others  probably  heard  the 
firing,  and  detachments  will  be  sent  from  Marysville  and  Severe- 
ville  to  head  us  off.  We  must  be  away  from  here  by  sun  up. 
Woman,  can  you  get  us  some  breakfast?" 

"Yes,  yes," — and  before  the  sun  was  peeping  over  the  hills 
we  were  well  down  the  cove. 

"To  continue  the  main    road  through  the  foot  hills,  as  we 


378  A    BULL    RUN    HERO. 

came,  was  dangerous,  so  we  turn  to  the  left,  pass  over  the- 
mountain  into  Cade's  Cove,  to  follow  the  summit  of  Chilhowia 
mountain  and  strike  the  Little  Tennessee  about  twenty-six  miles 
above  our  forces.  We  had  scarcely  left  the  main  road  when 
our  rear  guard  came  up  and  said:  'The  rebs  are  coming  up 
from  Marysville,  about  200  strong.' 

"Up,  up,  the  zigzag  path  we  toil  and  were  scarcely  at  ths 
top  when  the  rebels  reached  the  base  of  the  mountain. 

"A  citizen  stood  watching  the  enemy  from  a  projecting  rock 
at  the  roadside  near  the  summit.  He  gave  a  shrill  blast  from 
his  horn  and  was  answered  back  from  every  dwelling  in  the 
cove.  Then  the  inhabitants  were  seen  in  every  direction  climb 
ing  the  mountain  side  where  horses  could  not  go.  We  were  not 
yet  at  the  top  of  old  Chilhowie  when  we  looked  back  and  saw 
the  Johnnies  on  the  ridge  between  Tuckaleeche  and  Cade's  Cove 
—the  one  we  had  just  left. 

"They  heard  the  horns,  saw  us  down  in  Cade's  Cove;  stood 
a  few  moments  as  if  bewildered  then  turned  to  the  left  and 
passed  over  into  Weaer's  Cove,  leaving  us  to  quietly  return  to 
camp  with  our  prisoners  and  booty,  to  the  no  little  surprise  and 
gratification  of  our  commander." 


A    BULL    RUN    HERO. 


Among  our  officers  was  one  who,  it  was  said,  had  shown 
skill  and  bravery  as  an  officer  in  a  Michigan  regiment  at  Bull 
Run ;  but  the  memory  of  that  demoralizing  race  for  life  clung 


A    LIVELY    PRISONER.  379 

to  him.  He  never  could  stand;  but  his  legs,  or  those  of  his 
horse  were  always  sure  to  bear  him  away  whether  his  men 
followed  him  or  not,  and  at  last  he  left  the  gory  field  to  those 
who  did  not  know  enough  to  run. 


A    LIVELY    PRISONER. 

When  the  regiment  was  within  about  three  miles  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Kentucky,  on  its  scout,  October,  1862,  it  was  reported 
that  a  company  of  Confederate  recruits  were  in  camp  near  a  road 
leading  to  the  left,  and  Captain  Smith,  with  company  D,  was  sent 
to  capture  them.  Away  they  went  on  the  gallop,  and  sooner  than 
they  expected  came  upon  the  "doughty  warriors"  fast  asleep 
under  a  beech  tree,  with  their  arms  inconveniently  stacked  a 
short  distance  away.  As  our  men  came  near  them,  a  few  awoke 
in  time  to  shout,  "The  Yankees  are  coming,"  and  all  succeeded 
in  getting  away  to  the  bush  without  their  arms,  except  their 
captain,  who  sprang  up,  and  seizing  a  double-barreled  shot  gun$ 
cocked  it  and  leveled  it  at  Captain  Ben  Smith,  who  cried  out  to 
him;  "Surrender  or  you're  a  dead  man,"  and  seeing  too  many 
against  him  the  rebel  concluded  "discretion  was  the  better  part 
of  valor"  and  threw  down  his  gun. 

Placing  Lieutenant  Buddington  in  charge  of  the  prisoner,. 
Captain  Smith,  with  his  company,  pursued  the  scattering  John 
nies  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  securing  about  twenty  of  them. 

In  the  meantime  Lieutenant  Buddington  had  become  a  little 
uneasy  with  his  one  prisoner,  and  began  to  move  around  towards 
the  arms  to  get  between  them  and  his  captive,  holding  in  his 


880  A    FLAG    OF   TRUCE. 

hand  the  while  a  revolver,  ready  for  service.  Taking  advantage 
of  an  unguarded  moment  the  prisoner  sprang  upon  the  Lieuten 
ant,  and  with  a  death  like  grip  caught  the  muzzle  of  the 
revolver,  but  the  Lieutenant  held  firm  and  in  the  struggle  the 
piece  was  discharged,  carrying  away  two  of  the  prisoner's  fin 
gers.  That  scheme  was  at  once  abandoned,  and  another  put  as 
rapidly  into  execution,  showing  the  fellow  to  be  a  man  of  pluck 
in  an  emergency.  He  jumped  away  from  his  Yankee  antagonist 
(still  mounted),  and  running  behind  a  wagon,  dodged  hither 
and  thither  from  expected  bullets,  when,  to  his  infinite  satisfac 
tion,  a  rampageous  hog  came  to  the  rescue,  dodging  between  the 
legs  of  the  horse,  neatly  dismounting  the  Lieutenant,  landing 
horse  and  man  in  a  promiscuous  heap,  from  which  the  Lieutenant 
arose,  no  little  chagrined  to  find  himself  minus  a  prisoner,  and 
the  Captain,  with  his  company,  returning  just  in  time  to  join  in 
the  laugh,  which  even  the  rebel  prisoners  enjoyed. 

The  Lieutenant's  only  remark  was,  "By  thunder!  if  that 
feller  will  send  me  his  card,  I'll  give  him  this  d —  old  pistol,  to 
pay  for  the  fingers  he  left  behind." 


A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1862,  while  we  were  encamped 
near  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  the  necessity  .for  an  exchange  of  prison 
ers  was  acknowledged,  and  General  Granger,  with  part  of  his 
staff,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Sheridan,  and  a  part  of  his  staff 
(Colonel  Sheridan  having  been  recommended  for  promotion  to 
brigadier-general,  and  acting  as  such),  set  out  with  an  escort  of 
thirty  mounted  men,  bearing  the  white  flag  of  peace,  in  search 


A   FLAG    OF    TRUCE.  381 

of  the  Confederate  headquarters.  The  most  strict  order  wa8 
maintained  throughout  that  long  day,  and  not  a  sign  of  scout 
or  picket  was  met  with  until  the  sun  was  nearly  set  and  we 
brought  up  at  a  little  burg  thirty  miles  south,  known  as  Gun- 
town.  The  column  was  halted  at  the  outpost  and  a  courier 
dispatched  to  headquarters  announcing  Yankee  visitors.  With 
out  much  delay  orders  were  returned  to  escort  the  officers  to 
headquarters,  the  men  being  shown  a  pleasant  camping  ground 
near  by,  with  a  clear  spring  of  cool  water  at  hand  and  an  abun 
dance  of  food  for  horses.  Such  a  quiet  little  nook  among  the 
hills  and  trees  was  rarely  met  with,  and  our  men  were  not  slow 
to  settle  themselves  down  to  a  night  of  perfect  rest  and  enjoy 
ment;  and  though  a  guard  of  Confederates  was  detailed  to  re 
main  with  them,  the  most  courteous  hospitality  was  extended 
and  received  in  good  faith. 

The  officers  were  invited  to  private  houses  near  by  and 
tables  were  spread  with  the  best  the  land  afforded. 

Piano  music  and  songs — including  "Star  Spangled  Banner" 
and  "The  Bonny  Blue  Flag" — were  given  with  zest,  and  to  the 
sharp  raillery  of  the  young  ladies  good  natured  responses  were 
given  by  the  gentlemen  in  blue,  and  the  evening  wore  away  very 
pleasantly  and  we  were  given  the  "best  beds"  and  wished  a 
pleasant  good  night. 

Where  Generals  Granger  and  Sheridan  passed  their  evening 
and  what  official  acts  were  consummated  was  not  for  us  subalterns 
to  know;  but  we  retired  in  such  perfect  peace  of  mind  that  we 
were  sorry  to  awaken  on  the  morrow  and  dispel  this  pleasant 
dream.  But  with  the  morning,  after  a  hearty  breakfast,  our 


382  SCOUTING    IN   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

escort  was  at  the  door,  and  mounting,  our  adieus  were  spoken 
to  the  ladies,  while  the  blue  and  gray  paired  off  and  moved 
away  side  by  side,  chatting,  not  gaily,  but  with  a  subdued 
feeling  of  mingled  sadness  and  pleasure.  For  were  we  not — to 
day  friends  and  brothers,  yesterday  and  to-morrow  enemies, 
whom  to  shoot  on  sight  was  our  sworn  aim  and  intent  ? 

At  their  outpost  a  short  halt  was  made,  brief  words  of  hope 
for  another  and  more  lasting  peaceful  meeting  were  expressed; 
hands  were  pressed  in  warm  and  earnest  friendship;  hats  were 
lifted  in  courteous  salute,  and  we  filed  out  with  our  backs  to  our 
foe. 

Out  of  respect  to  this  friendly  meeting  not  a  scout  was 
made  on  either  side  for  many  days,  and  soon  after  thousands  of 
prisoners  from  both  sides  were  exchanged  at  Memphis. 


SCOUTING  IN    NORTH  CAROLINA. 

While  the  cavalry  division  under  General  Ed  McCook  lay 
at  Severeville,  East  Tennessee,  frequent  scouting  expeditions 
were  made  by  his  picked  scouts,  and  one  day  in  January,  1864,  a 
glorious  bright  winter's  day,  eight  of  this  little  band  of  scouts 
mostly  second  Michigan  cavalry,  with  some  from  the  eighth 
Iowa,  first  Wisconsin  or  third  Indiana,  went  over  the  mountains, 
watching  for  roving  bands  of  the  enemy.  Passing  over  into 
North  Carolina  they  looked  back  from  one  of  the  peaks  and 
could  plainly  see  Knoxville,  Dandridge  and  Mossy  Creek, 
'thirty-five  miles  away.  Below  them,  sweeping  across  the  valleys, 
were  occasional  white  clouds  that  looked  very  harmless  and 


SCOUTING    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA.  383 

very  beautiful,  but  as  they  swept  up  and  over  the  face  of  the 
mountains,  these  lowland  scouts  were  given  the  new  sensation 
of  a  cloud  bath,  a  wet  experience,  but  quickly  passed;  and  as 
the  sun  burst  through  again  they  moved  on  down  into  the 
enemy's  country. 

Keenly  alert  to  every  sound  or  sign  of  an  ambush  from 
bushwhackers  or  more  formidable  bands  of  the  enemy  they 
pick  their  way  through  that  broken  country,  and  finding  nothing 
set  out  on  their  return.  Suddenly  a  lagging  scout  comes  rush 
ing  up  from  the  rear  and  shouts,  "A  whole  company  of  cavalry 
are  after  us."  The  odds  were  against  them  and  they  dash  away 
to  gain  a  more  sheltered  position.  A  horse  stumbles,  throwing 
his  rider  heavily,  and  the  others  check  their  speed  to  give  their 
unfortunate  comrade  time  to  mount  and  come  up.  He  was 
unable  to  mount,  but  hobbles  along  at  a  painful  step,  and  see 
ing  they  must  make  a  stand  or  lose  a  man  they  turn  fiercely  at 
bay.  Fortunately  they  had  entered  a  gorge,  high  rocks  tower 
ing  on  either  hand  and  a  bend  of  the  road  in  their  rear. 

As  quick  as  thought  those  rifles  are  brought  to  the  shoulder 
and  the  foremost  of  the  pursuers  brought  to  the  ground, 
men  and  horses  all  in  a  confused  mass.  A  sergeant  and  one  man 
(a  recognized  bushwhacker),  unable  to  check  their  speed,  but 
missing  the  first  discharge  are  among  them.  A  continuous 
volley  from  the  seven  shooters  warns  the  Confederates  that 
they  have  no  faint  hearted  boys  to  deal  with,  and  all  that  could 
get  back  were  not  slow  in  doing  so,  leaving  our  scouts  to  retire 
at  their  leisure  without  losing  a  man  or  horse. 

Among  the  number  was  a  mere  boy,  who  had  no  other 
weapon  than  a  cavalry  saber. 

"Shall  I  charge  them  ?"  said  he. 


384  DODGING    SHELLS. 

The  absurdity  of  the  proposition  was  too  much  for  the  ser 
geant  in  command. 

"Yes,"  said  he,  laughing,  and  at  it  he  went;  riding  fiercely 
down  upon  an  officer  he  cut  and  slashed  at  the  Confederate's 
neck  until  they  all  fled,  the  man's  head  appearing  squarely  on 
his  shoulders  not  much  the  worse  for  his  encounter;  but  he  was 
seen  a  few  days  after  with  his  throat  bound  up,  and  our  boy  had 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  had  at  least  made  a  saber 
charge  and  drawn  blood. 

The  scouts  soon  returned  to  camp  without  further  adven 
ture,  but  such  deeds  of  daring  were  not  uncommon  to  them  in 
that  wild  disputed  territory. 


DODGING  SHELLS. 

It  rarely  occurred  that  shot  from  a  cannon  in  any  form 
could  be  dodged;  yet  such  incidents  did  occur,  and  no  doubt 
oftener  than  would  be  thought  possible.  It  must  be  done 
when  the  shot  or  shell  is  coming  directly  towards  you,  otherwise 
it  could  not  be  seen.  Stand  directly  behind  a  piece  of  artillery 
when  it  is  fired,  the  smoke  of  battle  not  yet  so  thick  as  to- 


DODGING    SHELLS.  385 

cloud  the  vision,  and  there  is  no  trouble  in  following  the  flying  mis 
sile  through  the  air  if  the  eye  is  quick.  And  some  have  asserted 
their  ability  to  follow  even  a  musket  ball  in  its  flight  if  the  range 
is  not  too  short.  A  case  of  dodging  was  witnessed  at  Thomp 
son's  station  that  was  peculiarly  exciting  for  a  few  moments. 
The  firing  had  just  began  to  wax  warm,  when  a  shell  that  would 
have  been  "too  high,"  struck  the  large  branch  of  a  tree  and 
glancing  downward  was  seen  a  hundred  yards  away,  coming 
end  over  end,  with  that  peculiar  whir-r-r  which  plainly  indicates 
it  is  not  flying  "point  blank."  An  officer  standing  a  short  dis 
tance  in  front  of  his  squadron,  and  seeing  at  once  that  his  legs 
and  the  body  of  his  horse  would  be  hit,  slashed  his  horse  with 
the  spur  and  shouted  to  the  officer  in  his  rear  and  the  men  near 
him: 

"Look  out!" 

Those  who  were  at  "attention"  did  move  slightly,  and  es 
caped,  but  one  horse,  slower  than  the  rest,  caught  it  on  the  knee,, 
breaking  his  leg;  but  so  many  obstructions  proved  too  much  for 
the  shell  and  it  stopped. 

Knowing  it  to  be  a  conical  or  long  shell,  from  its  peculiar 
noise,  an  explosion  was  expected,  and  those  nearest  held  their 
breath  while  they  stood  in  that  peculiar  attitude  a  person  would 
naturally  assume  if  he  saw  a  lighted  match  fall  into  a  powder 
magazine,  ten  feet  away. 

It  is  useless  to  speculate  as  to  men's  bravery  and  what  they 
would  do  in  trying  moments  like  that.  No  man,  in  his  right 
mind,  but  looks  upon  this  world  as  preferable  to  a  world  of 
which  he  knows  nothing  except  by  an  eye  of  faith,  and  so  with 
that  first  law  of  nature  uppermost  in  his  mind,  he  steps  aside,  if 


386  WHO    HIT    CHALMERS    AT    BOONEVILLE  ? 

by  RO  doing  he  can  save  his  life  and  continue  in  the  line  of  duty. 

One  man,  Captain  H ,  more    foolhardy  than  the   rest, 

without  stopping  to  think  whether  the  fuse  was  still  burning  or 
not,  picked  up  the  shell  with  the  remark,  "Why  the  darned 
thing  hairft  bust,"  and  held  it  in  his  hand  until  warned  that  it 
might  possibly  "bust"  yet,  when  he  threw  it  away,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  thereafter  we  had  something  else  to  do  besides  "dodg 
ing  shells." 

UNEXPLODED  SHELLS. 

Frightful  accidents  sometimes  occurred  in  camp  by  the 
careless  handling  of  old  shells  picked  up  on  the  battle  field. 
At  New  Madrid  some  infantrymen  had  removed  the  fuse  from  a 
thirty-two  pounder  and  allowed  the  powder  to  be  scattered 
along  on  the  ground;  this  became  ignited  by  a  cigar  dropped 
from  the  hand  of  a  comrade  and  the  trail  of  powder  flashed, 
extending  to  the  shell,  and  blowed  two  men  into  eternity. 


WHO  HIT  CHALMERS  AT  BOONEVILLE  ? 

At  the  eleventh  hour  an  interview  with  members  of  the 
second  battalion  has  given  some  additional  light  upon  the  rout 
ing  of  Chalmers  at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  July  1,  1862. 

Twenty-four  men  of  company.  L,  with  about  the  same  num 
bers  from  companies  M,  H  and  one  company  from  the  second 
Iowa  cavalry,  all  under  the  command  of  Major  Alger,  gained 
,the  rear  of  the  left  wing  of  Chalmers's  forces.  Captain  Wells, 
of  company  L,  led  the  charge  and  they  were  soon  among  the 


RUNNING  THE  GAUNTLET.  387 

Confederates,  cutting,  slashing  and  shouting,  and  the  enemy 
were  immediately  thrown  into  confusion  and  began  a  stampede. 
Then  the  Confederates'  main  forces  charged  back  upon  the  little 
battalion  of  one  hundred  men  and  all  moved  back,  firing  pro 
miscuously  at  close  range  and  in  a  confused  mass.  The  enemy 
made  no  special  effort  to  capture,  but  each  party  seemed  anxious 
to  leave  the  other,  and  our  battalion,  taking  the  first  road  lead 
ing  off  to  the  right,  soon  found  themselves  free  from  the  enemy, 
the  woods  concealing  the  real  strength  or  weakness  of  our 
force.  But  it  was  a  free  fight  from  the  start,  and  many  were 
either  killed  or  wounded  on  both  sides.  Company  L  lost  six  men 
by  capture  (their  horses  were  shot),  one  man  was  killed  and 
fifteen  wounded. 

Lieutenant  Hutton's  horse  was  killed  and   he  was   wounded, 
but  escaped   with  the  aid  of  a  lieutenant  of  the  second  Iowa. 
.  Major  Alger  was  injured,  but  escaped. 

The  few  prisoners  captured  thought  the  movement  on  their 
rear  was  to  draw  them  into  a  trap  and  thought  our  force  was 
very  much  larger  than  they  had  at  first  supposed.  They  con 
tinued  their  rapid  retreat  for  ten  miles  before  going  into  camp. 

Our  little  battalion  returned  leisurely. 


RUNNING  THE  GAUNTLET. 

While  the  second  battalion,  under  Major  Dickey,  was  re 
tiring  before  John  Morgan,  with  his  4,000  mounted  men,  from 
Glasgow  to  Mumfordsville,  Kentucky,  Sergeant  Henry  Wood 
ruff,  with  six  men  forming  the  extreme  rear  guard,  was  cut  off 
by  a  party  of  scouting  flankers.  Telling  the  men  to  follow 


388         A  CORPORAL'S  GUARD  MAKES  A  RECONNAISSANCE. 

him  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  dashed  down  the  road* 
Throwing  down  h»  reins  he  drew  his  revolver  in  one  hand  and 
an  old  single  barreled  horse  pistol  in  the  other  and  not  a  shot 
was  fired  until  he  was  fairly  among:  the  rebels,  when  he  fired 
right  and  left.  The  scouts  appearently  mistook  him  for  one  of 
their  own  men  and  not  until  he  had  passed  them  did  they  re 
cover  from  their  astonishment  and  opened  fire  upon  him  with 
carbines,  pistols,  muskets,  shot  guns  loaded  with  buckshot,  but 
he  dashed  away  unscathed  and  was  received  on  the  next  hill 
by  his  own  men  with  loud  cheers.  The  other  six  men  lacked' 
the  nerve  to  attempt  the  perilous  ride  and  were  all  captured. 

A  regiment  of  such  men  as  Sergeant  Woodruff  would  have 
rode  through  an  army  without  hesitation. 


A  CORPORAL'S  GUARD  MAKES  A  RECONNAISSANCE. 

Were  it  not  that  war  is  a  serious  business  the  following  ac 
count  of  a  reconnaissance  by  a  mere  handful  of  men  would  sound 
ridiculous,  but  so  far  from  that  being  the  fact  it  was  as  impor 
tant  in  its  results  as  though  the  whole  division  had  gone: 

A  small  detachment  of  company  F  was  sent  out  in  charge 
of  private  Bradford  (corporals  were  too  scarce  to  throw 
away  on  small  affairs)  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy  at 
VarnelPs  station.  The  advance  was  rapid,  mounted,  firing 
as  they  neared  the  advanced  skirmishers,  and  driving  them  be 
hind  the  first  line  of  infantry,  who,  in  turn,  fell  behind  their 
earthworks  as  the  little  squad  dashed  across  the  field,  through 
the  woods  and  up  to  the  very  cannon's  mouth,  and  a  row  of 


UNDER    ARREST.  389 

muskets  poured  forth  a  sheet  of  fire  and  lead  that  ought  if 
properly  directed  to  have  swept  them  froift  the  earth,  but 
strange  to  say  not  a  man  was  killed,  though  some  were  more  or 
less  injured.  The  enemy  came  out,  and  following  on,  back 
through  the  town,  drove  our  little  squad  doggedly  from  cover 
to  cover  until  the  crest  of  a  hill  was  reached;  a  few  of  the  regi 
ment  came  up;  rocks,  rails  and  logs  were  hastily  thrown  up  as  a 
breastwork;  the  horses  sent  to  the  rear  and  on  comes  a  brigade 
•of  Confederate  infantry. 

The  order  was  given  to  "fire  low  and  give  it  to  'em  lively," 
and  at  six  rods'  distance  the  slaughter  begun.  The  Confederates 
broke  and  run,  demoralized  by  a  handful  of  green  troops,  al 
though  it  would  be  difficult  to  make  them  believe  there  was  not 
a  brigade  of  Yankees  behind  that  temporary  breastwork.  A 
citizen  reported  five  of  the  enemy  killed  and  twenty  wounded. 


UNDER    ARREST. 

When  the  veterans  of  the  Second  reached  Chattanooga,  on 
a  wet,  disagreeable  afternoon  of  April,  1864,  they  were  sent  by 
Colonel  Smith  to  a  point  most  convenient  to  the  depot,  under 
command  of  an  officer,  to  select  the  most  available  quarters  that 
could  be  found,  while  the  Colonel  went  to  look  after  necessary 
papers  for  transportation  home,  and  if  possible,  procure  a  tem 
porary  shelter  from  the  rain. 

No  preparations  had  been  made,  and  the  outlook  was 
gloomy  enough.  Their  tents  and  camp  equipage  had  been  left1 
behind,  and  there  seemed  only  one  alternative — to  "skirmish" 


390  UNDER  ARREST. 

for  boards  or  anything  that  could  cover  them.  They  happened 
to  be  near  the  headquarters  of  a  colonel  of  colored  troops. 
Without  knowing  or  caring  who  the  comfortably  quartered 
officer  was  they  commenced  to  gather  in  all  the  boards,  fencing, 
pickets,  etc.,  within  reach.  A  company  A  man  was  picking  up 
a  board  near  the  colonel's  quarters,  when  the  colonel  rushed 
out,  and  jumping  with  all  his  weight  upon  the  board,  crushed 
the  man's  fingers.  This  was  more  than  company  A  could  stand, 
and  without  recognizing,  in  the  darkness,  that  it  was  an  officer 
with  whom  they  had  to  deal,  the  valiant  colonel  was  felled  by  a 
single  blow  of  the  fist,  and  they  went  on  with  their  construction 
corps;  a  few  of  the  men  and  most  of  the  officers  finding  quar 
ters  in  houses  and  hotels.  Soon  Colonel  Smith  received  an 
order  to  report  to  General  Thomas's  headquarters,  which  was 
promptly  complied  with,  when  General  Whipple  informed  him 
that  his  regiment  had  been  guilty  of  unheard  of  outrages, 
depredations,  etc.,  be -ides  seriously  injuring  the  "  colored 
colonel,"  and  that  his  regiment  would  be  put  under  arrest  in 
the  morning,  their  furlough  taken  from  them  and  the  regiment 
otherwise  punished. 

Colonel  Smith  used  his  best  arguments  to  change  the  decree, 
but  all  in  vain.  One  side  of  the  story  had  been  heard  and  there 
appeared  to  be  no  extenuating  circumstances.  The  Colonel  said 
he  would  be  responsible  for  all  damages,  but  that  would  not  do. 
The  Colonel  was  suffered  to  return  to  his  quarters  for  the  night, 
with  instructions  to  be  at  headquarters  in  the  morning. 

The  news  that  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  were  to  be  dis 
armed  and  put  under  arrest  had  created  quite  a  stir  in  camp. 
Their  fame  as  a  fighting  regiment  was  widely  known,  and  it  was 


ONE    DAT    NEARER    ATLANTA.  391 

hinted  throughout  the  camp  that  there  would  be  a  fight.  Gen 
eral  Steadman,  in  command  of  the  post,  was  ordered  to  make 
the  arrest.  It  was  evidently  a  disagreeable  duty  for  the  old 
soldier,  for  he  was  a  hard  fighter  himself.  But  he  ordered  out 
a  regiment  of  infantry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  placing  them 
in  a  position  commanding  the  camp  of  the  Second.  He  then 
ordered  the  Second  into  line,  arms  in  hand;  and  though  a  brave 
soldier,  he  turned  pale  as  he  looked  into  the  eyes  of  those  315 
scar  worn  veterans  standing  before  him.  Stating  to  the  men, 
in  a  few  words,  his  duty,  in  a  voice  full  of  emotion,  he  ordered 
them  to  stack  their  arms. 

Only  for  a  moment  the  turbulent,  rebellious  spirit  welled 
up  in  their  hearts,  and  promptly  the  arms  were  stacked, 
the  long  agony  over,  though  there  was  many  an  eye  moist 
with  indignation  on  the  one  side  and  sympathy  on  the  other. 
Every  man  felt  that  he  could  afford  to  leave  the  redress 
for  their  wrongs  to  their  record  in  the  past,  and  sure  justice 
in  the  future. 

They  took  their  disgrace  lightly,  almost  indifferently,  and 
in  twenty-four  hours  were  released  and  on  their  way  home. 

The  damages  were  assessed  at  $5,  and  paid,  so  ending  the 
first  and  only  unpleasantness  with  our  own  troops. 


ONE    DAY    NEARER    ATLANTA. 

The  following  memorandum  copied  from  the  diary  of  a 
private  soldier  of  company  F,  second  Michigan  cavalry,  gives 
us  a  glimpse  into  the  every  day  life  of  the  soldier  during  that 
memorable  campaign: 


392  WHY    CHEATFIAM  DID  NOT  GET    THERE. 

June  4 — A  detail  of  fifteen  picked  men  under  private  Brad 
ford  was  sent  to  take  a  rebel  picket  post  on  our  left.  It  proved 
a  strong  position  and  we  had  a  hard  struggle  to  dislodge  them. 
La  Bean,  Yliet,  Helmer  and  Blackmer  bore  themselves  like 
heroes,  forcing  the  fighting  from  the  start.  This  was  a  hard 
day's  work  and  we  were  without  rations.  Relieved  about  7 
p.  M.  Rebel  loss,  three  killed  and  wounded  and  three  prisoners. 


WHY    CHEATHAM    DID    NOT    GET    THERE. 

General  Hood,  in  his  book,  "Advance  and  Retreat,"  bears 
down  heavily  upon  Cheatham  for  not  taking  possession  of  the 
turnpike  and  cutting  off  Schofield's  retreat  from  Columbia  to 
Franklin. 

The  following  from  a  member  of  company  M,  second 
Michigan  cavalry,  has  but  recently  come  to  hand,  in  fact  after 
the  MS.  was  in  the  hands  of  the  printer,  and  it  could  not,  there 
fore,  appear  in  the  proper  place.  He  says: 

"Company  M  had  been  left  the  night  before  on  picket  at 
the  crossing  of  Duck  river,  and  was  ordered  to  stay  as  long  as 
possible  and  then  follow  the  regiment  towards  Franklin.  They 
stayed  until  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  on  three  sides  of  them  in 
strong  force,  and  the  enemy's  infantry  was  in  sight,  when  they 
made  their  way  (skirmishing  along  and  keeping  the  rebel  cavalry 
at  a  comfortable  distance)  back  to  Columbia  and  gave  the  alarm 
and  then  moved  out  east  of  the  town,  where  the  enemy  were 
also  appearing  in  strong  force.  We  repulsed  their  advance 


CHEATHAM  AND  FRANKLIN.  393 

skirmishers  several  times,  but  fell  back  before  their  main  lines, 
fighting  as  long  as  possible,  until  some  of  our  infantry  came  to 
our  relief;  and  we  checked  the  enemy  until  the  trains  got  a 
little  start.  A  very  stubborn  fight  was  kept  up  until  dark,  when 
the  enemy  bivouacked  for  the  night,  and  our  trains  passed 
along  the  pike  towards  Franklin,  with  a  small  force  of  our 
infantry  and  our  one  company  of  cavalry  ready  to  dispute  the 
road  until  the  last  wagon  had  gone  on,  not  long  before  day- 


While  it  is  more  than  probable  that  Cheatham  would  have 
forced  his  way  to  that  pike  it  is  also  evident  that  he  had  a  few 
desperate  men  to  contend  against,  who  fully  understood  and 
appreciated  the  dangers  that  threatened  our  trains,  and  had 
Cheatham  taken  possession  of  the  pike  he  would  have  found  it 
necessary  to  indulge  in  something  more  than  an  ordinary  little 
skirmish,  and  that,  too,  with  darkness  coming  on  to  aid  the 
troops  on  the  defensive. 


GENERAL     CHEATHAM?S      STORY      OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN 


A  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer  recently  visited 
the  battle  field  of  Franklin,  Tennessee,  in  company  with  General 
Cheatham,  who  commanded  a  Confederate  corps  in  the  action 
X)f  November  30th,  1864.  General  Cheatham  said: 

"I  had  the  largest  corps  in  that  army — something  less  than 
9,000  men.  Hood's  disposition  of  his  forces  for  that  fight  was: 


394  CI1EATHAM  AND  FRANKLIN. 

The  corps  I  was  directing  on  the  left  and  center,  Stewart's  corps 
on  my  right,  and  Stephen  D.  Lee's  corps  in  reserve.  My  dispo 
sition  was:  General  Bate  on  the  extreme  left,  General  J.  C. 
Brown  with  my  old  division  on  the  left  of  the  Columbia  pike, 
with  his  right  resting  on  that  road,  Cleburne  on  the  right  of  the 
same  pike,  with  his  left  resting  on  it.  As  General  Bate  had  a 
long  road  around  to  the  left,  I  waited  some  time  after  he  started 
before  giving  the  order  to  advance.  Finally  the  line  moved 
forward.  Brown  and  Cleburne  were  to  stop  as  they  reached 
the  open  field  at  the  foot  ot  Winstead's  hill.  I  rode  forward  to 
its  summit  as  they  moved,  and  established  my  headquarters  there, 
and  waited  for  the  troops  to  pass  over." 

"It  was  the  grandest  sight  I  ever  saw  when  our  army 
marched  over  the  hill  and  reached  the  open  field  at  its  base. 
Each  division  unfolded  itself  into  a  single  line  of  battle  with 
as  much  steadiness  as  if  forming  for  dress  parade,"  said  ex-Gov 
ernor  Porter,  who  was  in  those  days  General  Cheatham's  chief 
of  staff.  He  was  looking  over  the  hill  from  Winstead's  hill  as 
he  spoke,  and  seemed  to  recall  the  events  of  the  day,  and  again 
pass  them  in  review  before  his  mind's  eye.  "As  I  look  over  this 
field  to-day,"  he  continued,  "it  seems  as  though  I  can  almost 
witness  the  pageant  over  again.  The  men  were  tired,  hungry, 
footsore,  ragged,  and  many  of  them  barefooted,  but  their  spirit 
was  admirable.  Bear  in  mind  that  it  was  the  first  time  the  two 
divisions  of  Cheatham's  corps — Cleburne's  and  Brown's — had 
met  side  by  side  in  full  view  of  each  other  in  an  open  field,  with 
the  advantages  for  desperate  work  equally  balanced  between  them. 
For  years  each  had  contended  for  the  right  to  wear  the  name  of 
the  crack  division  of  that  army,  and  the  faces  of  both  men  and 


CHEATHAM  AND  FRANKLIN.  395 

officers  seemed  to  say:  'Here  is  a  field  upon  which  the  right 
shall  be  decided.'" 

"Yes,"  broke  in  General  Cheatham,  "fight  was  not  only  in 
those  two  divisions,  but  in  the  whole  army  that  day.  Don't 
you  remember,  Porter,  that  as  they  wheeled  into  the  line  of 
battle,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  their  precision  and  military 
bearing  were  as  beautiful  a  sight  as  was  ever  witnessed  in  war  ? 
I  could  see  that  the  Federal  line  was  short  and  curved  and  I 
knew  that  we  could  easily  cover  it  by  going  forward  in  line 
of  battle  by  brigades.  So  this  information  was  made  before 
the  time  to  charge  came. 

* 'Before  moving  our  troops  from  Winstead's  hill  I  had 
arranged  with  both  Cleburne  and  Brown,  the  two  divisions 
under  my  eye,  to  give  them  the  word  with  a  flag  when  to  move. 
When  their  lines  swung  into  position  they  corrected  their  align 
ment  and  then  faced  toward  me,  waiting  for  the  signal  to 
advance.  A  moment  of  suspense  to  see  thax,  everything  was 
ready,  then  the  flag  dropped,  and  the  line  Inoved  forward  as 
steady  as  a  clock.  It  was  two  miles  and  a  quarter  from  the 
starting  point  to  the  main  Federal  line,  and  our  advancing 
column  was  in  full  view  from  General  Schofield's  position  and 
from  the  intrenched  line  of  the  Union  troops  at  the  Carter 
house  nearly  every  foot  of  the  way.  My  twenty-four  pieces  of 
artillery  followed  the  advancing  troops,  and  occasionally  drop 
ped  a  shell  into  the  Federal  lines.  There  was  no  halt  from  the 
time  our  force  started  until  it  struck  the  Federal  breastworks. 
A  regiment  was  thrown  out  as  skirmishers  in  advance  of  each 
of  my  divisions.  They  struck  Wagner's  two  brigades  posted  a 
half  mile  in  advance  of  the  main  position,  and  as  they  gave 


396  CHEATHAM  AND  FRANKLIN. 

way  our  main  line  followed  them  right  in  on  to  the  Federal 
breastworks.  I  lost  hardly  a  man  until  within  fifty  yards  of  the 
intrenchments.  The  fleeing  men  from  the  two  brigades  posted 
in  their  front  kept  the  fire  off  from  our  troops  until  after  their 
men  got  behind  the  main  line.  Our  line  of  battle  followed 
them  in.  The  Federals  could  not  fire  upon  it  until  it  was 
within  very  close  range.  Our  advancing  line  must  have  been 
visible,  not  only  to  the  Federal  commanders,  but  to  all  of  their 
troops  in  the  fortifications  for  nearly  an  hour  before  it  struck 
Wagner.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  protection  the  two  brigades 
that  were  in  advance  gave  our  men,  Cox  would  have  mowed  my 
line  with  artillery  from  the  moment  I  started  until  I  reached 
his  main  works.  As  it  was,  our  troops  marched  for  an  hour 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy  without  any  molestation  to  speak  of, 
except  a  little  harmless  artillery  fire  from  the  fort  where 
Schofield  had  his  headquarters.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
Stewart's  corps  that  was  on  my  right,  and  also  in  full  view. 
I  followed  and  watched  my  line  closely,  and  then  took  up  my 
headquarters  on  Merrill's  hill,  a  sharp  knob  within  musket 
range  of  the  fight.  Hood  was  just  back  of  me  on  the  pike. 

"It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  operations  on 
this  field  after  the  men  got  together.  It  was  the  bloodiest 
battle  of  the  war.  I  lost  six  general  officers  killed  and  two 
wounded.  Cleburne  was  our  greatest  loss.  He  was  a  capital 
soldier.  He  had  some  unpleasantness  about  Spring  Hill  with 
Hood,  and  I  think  was  a  little  more  daring  than  usual  that 
day.  It  was  reported  to  me  that  he  had  some  words  with 
"*  the  commander  of  the  army  just  before  going  into  battle. 
'The  charge  of  the  two  divisions  of  ray  corps,  my  old  division 


CHEATHAM    AND    FRANKLIN.  397 

commanded  by  General  J.  C.  Brown,  and  Cleburne's,  com 
manded  by  himself,  was  one  of  the  most  desperate  and  gallant 
of  the  war.  Arms  were  trailed  until  time  to  give  the  steel 
came,  when  the  order  to  charge  was  given  simultaneously  by 
Cleburne  and  Brown. 

"The  men  marched  to  the  terrible  work  with  perfect  pre 
cision  and  great  spirit  and  determination.  Cleburne's  horse  was 
killed  under  him  just  after  the  charge  begun.  With  sword  in 
hand  he  sprang  to  the  front  of  his  men,  encouraging  them  with 
his  words  and  example.  Just  before  he  reached  the  Federal 
works  he  was  shot  dead.  Poor  fellow.  He  never  reached  the 
enemy's  earthworks  toward  which  he  was  leading  his  men.  He 
fell  right  here,"  said  the  old  general,  as  he  pointed  to  a  spot 
not  far  from  the  old  gin-house.  "Here  one  of  the  best  soldiers 
that  ever  drew  a  sword,  gave  up  his  life."  The  veteran's  eyes 
moistened  as  he  looked  at  the  place  in  the  open  field  where  his 
friend  was  slain,  but  Mr.  Carter,  who  owns  the  farm,  has  marked 
the  spot,  as  every  one  who  visits  this  field  asks:  "Where  did 
Pat  Cleburne  die  ?"  It  is  now  obscured  by  the  footprints  of 
peace.  After  a  moment  General  Cheatham  turned  from  the 
iield  toward  the  road,  and  running  his  eye  along  the  line  said: 
"A  little  further  to  the  right,  looking  toward  Franklin,  and 
around  on  the  other  side  of  the  gin-house,  General  John  Adams, 
of  Stewart's  corps,  was  killed  on  his  horse  astride  the  Federal 
breastworks.  Scott,  of  the  same  corps,  was  also  slain  near  there. 
General  Cockrell,  now  United  States  senator  from  Missouri,  and 
General  Quarles  were  also  wounded  there.  Stewart's  corps  did 
desperate  work  that  day,  and  fully  divided  the  honors  with  my 
own  troops.  Brown,  who  commanded  my  old  division,  was 


398  CHEATHAM    AND    FRANKLIN. 

wounded  early  in  the  fight,  after  Cleburne  was  killed;  and  of  my 
brigade  commanders  Gordon  was  captured,  Granberry,  Gist, 
Strahl  and  Carter  were  killed — a  greater  mortality  of  general 
officers  than  was  ever  known  during  the  war  when  an  equal  num 
ber  of  tropps  were  engaged  ?  The  corps  I  commanded  lost 
eight  generals,  killed  and  wounded,  and  Stewart  lost  five. 
About  dark  Ed  John's  division  of  Stephen  D.  Lee's  corps,  that 
was  in  reserve,  was  sent  to  the  support  of  Brown  and  did  some 
hard  fighting.  General  Manigault,  of  that  division,  was 
wounded.  General  Bate,  who  went  to  the  left,  had  a  long  and 
rough  road  to  travel  to  reach  his  position,  but  he  went  into 
battle  on  the  left  just  about  dark  and  had  a  sharp  engagement. 

"Artillery  played  but  a  small  part  in  this  battle.  We  had 
very  little  chance  to  use  ours,  except  during  the  advance,  and 
the  Federals  had  very  little  chance  to  use  theirs.  The  artillery 
in  the  fort  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  did  a  little  damage 
to  Stewart,  but  that  was  about  all. 

"It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  this  battle,  for  it  was 
fought  in  such  close  quarters,  and  the  work  was  so  exacting 
upon  both  armies,  that  there  was  not  a  second  for  hesitation  and 
thought.  From  the  moment  Wagner's  two  brigades  got  be 
hind  the  main  line,  so  that  they  could  shoot  without  killing  their 
own  men,  the  Union  troops  poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into 
our  ranks.  General  Brown,  on  the  left  of  the  pike,  from  the 
direction  in  which  we  were  advancing,  carried  a  portion  of  the 
first  line  of  earthworks  in  the  first  charge,  and  held  his  advan 
tage  to  the  last.  He  also  pushed  the  whole  of  his  line  right  up 
,  against  the  Federal  works,  and  so  intrenched  himself  that  the 
fighting  men  were  so  close  together  that  they  could  reach  across 


CHEATHAM    AND    FRANKLIN.  399 

from  one  line  to  the  other.  Brown's  division  suffered  terribly. 
He  gained  position  and  held  it  under  the  most  trying  circum 
stances. 

"Cox's  position  was  naturally  a  strong  one,  and  he  added  to 
its  strength  by  taking  advantage  of  every  point  in  building  his 
earthworks.  The  line  which  Brown  struck  sloped  quite  sharply 
to  the  left  from  the  cotton  gin  around  beyond  the  Carter  house. 
The  earthworks  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  pike,  as  he  ap 
proached,  were  so  built  the  force  in  it  could  enfilade  his  whole 
line  as  it  reached  the  Federal  position  on  the  left  of  the  pike. 
As  Brown  charged  it  a  terrible  enfilading  fire  from  these  works 
was  poured  into  his  men.  It  was  very  destructive,  and  to  save 
themselves  as  much  as  possible  his  troops  made  breastworks  of 
the  dead  bodies  of  their  fallen  comrades  until  they  could  throw 
up  earth  to  protect  themselves. 

"The  battle  was  short,  but  desperate.  I  lost  a  greater  num 
ber  of  men,  according  to  the  number  engaged/than  in  any  bat 
tle  of  the  war,  except  Murfreesboro.  The  real  fight  only  lasted 
about  two  hours,  but  there  were  sharp  assaults  on  both  sides 
until  ten  o'clock.  About  eleven  the  Federals  withdrew,  and 
about  two  o'clock  I  made  into  the  town  and  got  something  to 
eat,  the  first  I  had  tasted  that  day.  Just  at  daybreak  I  rode 
upon  the  field,  and  such  a  sight  I  never  saw  and  can  never  expect 
to  see  again.  The  dead  were  piled  up  like  shocks  of  wheat,  or 
scattered  about  like  sheaves  of  grain.  The  fierce  flame  of  battle 
had  nearly  all  been  confined  within  a  range  of  fifty  yards, 
except  the  cavalry  fight  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Almost 
under  your  eye,  nearly  all  the  dead,  wounded  and  dying  lay. 
In  front  of  the  Carter  house  the  bodies  lay  in  heaps,  and  to  the 


400  CAVALRY  AND  GUNBOATS. 

right  of  it  a  locust  thicket  had  been  mowed  off  by  bullets,  as  if 
by  a  scythe.  It  was  a  wonder  that  any  man  escaped  alive  from 
that  storm  of  iron  missiles.  A  man  who  counted  the  dead  told 
me  that  there  were  over  fifteen  hundred  bodies  in  the  narrow 
space  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  pike;  900  Confederates  and 
something  over  six  hundred  Union.  I  spent  two  years  in  the 
Mexican  war  and  four  years  in  the  late  conflict.  I  never  saw 
anything  like  that  field,  and  never  want  to  again. 

"It  is  all  over  now,  and  these  are  only  reflections  upon  a 
sad  subject.  I  did  not  come  here  to  talk  of  them,  but  to  show 
you  the  position  of  our  troops  and  point  out  where  we  began 
and  ended.  This  is  the  first  time  I  have  visited  this  battle-field 
since  the  fight  took  place,  and  I  have  talked  more  of  the  events 
of  the  war  to-day  than  during  all  the  past  fifteen  years.  I  have 
never  read  a  true  story  of  this  battle.  It  will  be  hard  to  write 
one.  I  should  have  added  to  what  I  said  about  a  visit  to  the 
field  next  morning  at  daybreak  that  we  buried  the  dead,  cared 
for  the  wounded  men  of  both  sides  as  best  we  could,  and  then- 
moved  on  to  the  battle  at  Nashville." 


CAVALRY    AND    GUNBOATS. 

It  was  at  New  Madrid,  in  those  "verdant"  days,  when  vol 
unteers  knew  no  more  fear  than  the  average  youth  knows  of 
the  dangers  of  Fourth  of  July  pyrotechnics.  A  battalion  of 
the  Second  was  sent  to  reconnoiter  towards  the  river  where  the- 
"Confederates  were  known  to  have  forts,  gunboats  and  troops. 
The  battalion  charged  upon  the  pickets,  driving  them  in  and  fol- 


CAPTURING    OUTPOSTS.  401 

lowing  them  down  a  lane,  which  led  them  into  a  pen  surrounded 
by  a  strong  fence,  from  which  there  was  no  escape  except  by  the 
way  they  came.  The  lane  brought  them  up  short  in  a  yard 
strongly  inclosed  by  a  high  fence  and  here  they  found  them 
selves  in  close  proximity  to  a  gunboat  which  immediately  pro 
ceeded  to  "unload,"  and  would,  doubtless,  soon  have  annihilated 
the  major  with  his  foolhardy  battalion,  had  not  the  general 
commanding  sent  word:  "What  in  blankety  blank  are  you 
doing  down  there  ?  Charging  gunboats  ?  Git  out!" 

The  major  returned,  with  a  much  less  exalted  opinion  of  his 
own  valor,  and  possibly  with  a  grain  or  two  of  wisdom  stored 
away  for  future  use. 


CAPTURING    OUTPOSTS. 

That  was  a  nervous  sort  of  a  place  to  put  a  handful  of  men 
—two  miles  southwest  of  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  during  the  summer 
of  1862. 

Beauregard's  cavalry  outposts  seemed  anxious  only  to  give  as 
much  annoyance  as  possible  with  as  little  real  fighting  or  other 
important  service. 

A  road  that  continued  straight  in  one  direction  for  half  a 
mile  was  unusual.  If  there  were  less  than  five  forks  leading  in 
as  many  directions  to  each  plantation  it  was  a  mistake  of  the 
old  pioneer  who  surveyed  it  with  a  mule.  Then  the  woods,  too, 
were  not  the  most  beautiful  groves  in  the  world,  but  they  were 
capital  places  for  bushwhacking  operations.  Some  of  the 
boys  think  our  friend  (?)  Street,  across  the  way  here,  is 


402  CAPTURING    OUTPOSTS. 

none  to  loyal;  even  suggesting  that  he  would  not  hesitate  to 
ride  a  blind  rnule  fifteen  miles  on  a  dark  night  to  get  the  John 
nies  here  and  show  them  our  vidette  posts  and  guard  headquar 
ters.  As  I  came  here  frequently  as  commander  of  this  outpost, 
I  resolved  to  get  acquainted  with  and  watch  him. 

The  third  Michigan  cavalry  had  lost  several  men  here  by 
capture  and  I  resolved  that  they  should  not  find  me  napping. 
And  this  was  my  plan  for  the  night:  One  man  at  the  principal 
forks  on  the  main  road,  eighty  rods  in  rear  of  the  day  posts, 
dismounted,  his  horse  back  with  the  main  guards,  concealed  in 
the  woods  ne  ir  the  road.  One  man  mounted  to  patrol  the  main 
road,  and  one  vidette  upon  each  fork. 

Now,  boys,  no  tires,  no  noise.  One  half  watch  while  the 
others  sleep,  with  your  bridles  iii  your  hands.  Patrols  and 
guards,  if  you  are  attacked,  fire  and  fall  back  out  of  the  way. 
We  will  do  the  rest.  There  is  no  sleep  for  me  to-night.  Rub 
your  eyes.  Keep  awake,  outposts,  for  I  shall  visit  you  often,  all 
night.  The  safety  of  our  whole  army  may  depend  upon  our 
vigilance.  Egyptian  darkness  would  not  more  effectually  hide 
the  approach  of  an  enemy.  A  slight  noise  is  heard  in  the  bush. 
It  is  coming  nearer — list!  wait,  let  us  see  if  there  is  one  or  more. 
Silence!  then,  creeping  on,  he  comes — "woof,"  it's  only  a  hog. 

Run  him  off. 

And  so  the  hours  drag  slowly  on,  and  soon  the  cocks  will 
crow.  This  is  the  hour  we  may  look  for  a  dash  from  the 
enemy's  scouts. 

Hark!     There,  a    shot,  then  half    a    dozen,  and    our    patrol 

"comes  in,  firing.     He  passes  on  to  the  rear.     Ready!  there  they 

come.     Fire!  Crack,  crack — crash,    from  every  revolving  rifle. 


STRAINING    A    POINT    TO    SAVE    A    LIFE.  403 

A  few  wild  shots  are  returned;  they  break,  and  retire  in 
confusion. 

Cume  on,  boys,  let's  follow  them.  Give  them  a  parting 
blast. 

And  hurrying  after  them,  firing  as  we  run,  their  clattering 
hoofs  are  soon  heard  faintly  in  the  distance. 

Halt!  let  us  see  if  they  will  return  in  force. 

Daylight  streaks  the  east,  broadening  into  the  brighter  day, 
and  we  return  to  our  horses,  conscious  that  our  army  has  not 
been  disturbed  by  the  pickets  being  driven  in,  and  none  of  us 
have  been  captured  or  hurt. 

That  was  the  last  night  attack  upon  our  outposts  at  that 
point. 


STRAINING  A  POINT  TO  SAVE  A  LIFE. 

There  was  a  time  when  my  conscience  troubled  me  about 
the  following  incident  as  I  reflected  upon  the  thought,  "A 
neglect  of  duty  is  the  highest  military  crime;"  but  as  no  harm 
came  of  it  I  have  long  since  ceased  to  upbraid  myself. 

We  were  on  picket  in  Mississippi.  The  enemy's  cavalry  had 
sometimes  crept  up,  and  dismounting  had  captured  the  outposts 
stationed  there.  As  yet  our  regiment  had  been  spared  that  hu 
miliation,  and  as  I  went  out  that  morning,  looking  over  the  posi 
tions  of  the  videttes,  the  responsibility  seemed  very  weighty.  I, 
a  mere  boy,  in  charge  of  a  half  mile  of  line — far  in  advance  of 
the  infantry  and  the  enemy's  videttes  within  speaking  distance, 
while  their  lines  of  infantry  were  much  nearer  than  ours.  To 
see  that  the  guards  were  relieved  every  two  hours  was  the  ser- 


404  STRAINING    A    POINT    TO    SAVE    A    LIFE. 

geant's  duty.  To  see  that  the  position  was  slightly  changed 
every  hour  was  my  especial  care,  accompanied  by  a  sergeant  or 
corporal  of  the  guard. 

Was  there  ever  darkness  more  intense  than  those  cloudy, 
moonless  nights  in  the  south?  To  ride  or  walk  along  that 
gloomy  path  with  low  hanging  boughs  catching  at  your  eyes 
and  nose  at  every  step  and  not  make  some  noise,  was  impossible. 
To  stand  in  one  position  and  not  fall  asleep,  required  a  nerve  of 
iron,  unless,  as  it  sometimes  happened,  the  man  was  sleepless. 

There  was  one  soldier  in  my  company — a  tall,  fine  looking 
young  fellow,  upon  whom,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  the  miasma 
of  that  mid-summer  Mississippi  climate  had  begun  to  have  some 
effect,  yet  from  whom  there  had  been  no  word  of  complaint,  and 
it  fell  to  his  lot  at  two  in  the  morning  to  take  up  a  position  by  a 
tree,  dismounted,  and  move  as  little  and  as  noiselessly  as  possible, 
while  he  listened  for  creeping  noises,  distant,  jingling  spurs  and 
sabers,  and  peered  down  the  two  roads  which  here  became  one. 
At  half  past  two  I  approached  him  stealthily  from  the  rear  and 
found  him  alert,  but  leaning  for  rest  against  the  tree. 

He  halted  me,  and  immediately  recognized  my  low  whisper 
ed  reply. 

"All  quiet  in  front  ?"  "Yes,  sir,  but  there  was  a  slight  rust 
ling  just  to  the  left  of  the  right  hand  road.  It  moved  off,  and 
I  suppose  it  was  only  a  hog." 

"Don't  tire  unless  absolutely  necessary." 

At  half-past  three  I  moved  that  way  again.  He  was  sitting 
down  with  his  back  to  the  tree;  his  gun  leaning  carefully  against 
his  shoulder,  his  head  drooped— asleep. 

•'My  God!  asleep  upon  his  post  and  the  penalty  is  death!" 
flashed  with  crushing  force  upon  me. 


STRAINING    A    POINT    TO    SAVE    A    LIFE.  405 

I  will  give  him  one  chance.  "  George  /"  I  whispered  near 
enough  to  have  been  heard  if  not  Asleep. 

Bursting  with  suppressed  emotion  I  seized  his  gun  with  one 
hand  iand  his  shoulder  in  the  other  and  threw  him  full  length 
upon  the  ground. 

Springing  to  his  feet  he  drew  his  revolver,  thinking  me  an 
enemy.  "George,"  said  I. 

"Lieutenant,  is  that  you?  What's  the  matter!" 

"The  matter?     Do  you  know  what  you  have  done?" 

"What!  was  I  asleep  ?  Lieutenant,  I  ought  not  to  have  gone 
on  duty  to-night.  I  haven't  felt  just  right  for  several  days. 
Shall  you  report  rne  to  the  Colonel  ?" 

There  was  a  slight  tremor  in  his  voice  and  I  could  not  re 
ply,  and  I  cursed  myself  as  I  turned  away,  handing  him  his  gun 
in  silence.  "Am  I  a  man  or  a  boy  ?  A  soldier  or  a  poltroon  ? 
What  have  I  to  do  with  sympathy  ?"  and  I  leaned  against  the 
nearest  tree  and  struggled  with  myself  in  silence.  This  com 
rade's  life  is  in  my  hands.  The  life  of  many  a  comrade  was  in  , 
his.  What  shall  I  do  ?  Perhaps  he  was  sick.  Why  did  he  not 
say  so  ?" 

It  was  a  moment  of  intense  agony.  I  felt  called  upon  to 
act  as  judge  advocate  and  members  of  court,  and  act  at  once. 
"He  may  be  sick.  The  danger  is  past  at  all  events.  I  must 
have  a  little  time  to  think,"  and  returning  to  my  guards  I  sent  a 
corporal  to  stay  with  him  his  watch  out,  and  I  kept  on  thinking, 
until,  glad  of  an  excuse,  I  sent  the  man  to  the  doctor  for  treat 
ment,  and  never  before  mentioned  it  to  a  living  soul  that  I  re 
member  of.  He  was  afterwards  murdered  by  bushwhackers, 
and  that  settles  his  part  of  it.  As  for  me  I  am  not  proud  of  my 


406  AN    OMEN. 


overwhelming  sympathy  at  that  time,  but  perhaps  there  may 
be  those  who  can  appreciate  my  position  on  that  occasion  and  be 
generous  to  him  who  strained  a  point  to  save  a  comrade's  life. 


AN    OMEN. 


While  Pope's  army  was  drawing  the  lines  closer  on  the  left 
before  Corinth,  it  became  necessary  to  open  and  keep  up  com 
munication  with  our  right  under  BuelL  The  afternoon  of  the 
fierce  engagement  at  Farmington,  which  came  so  near  resulting  in 
a  general  conflict  between  all  the  forces,  was  one  which  taxed 
the  cavalry  severely  in  maintaining  their  communications  and  in 
charging  the  enemy  wherever  a  vulnerable  point  was  shown. 
The  "twin  Seconds,"  the  second  Iowa  and  second  Michigan  caval 
ry,  distinguished  themselves  alike  on  special  service,  nor  stopped 
to  ask  whether  some  other  would  get  the  credit  for  it.  While  a 
,.  part  of  the  second  Michigan  was  used  on  the  left  in  protecting  that 
flank,and  the  second  Iowa  made  a  bold  and  successful  charge  on  the 
center,  a  squadron  of  the  second  Michigan,  under  Captain  L.  S. 
Scranton  (mostly  company  F  men),  were  sent  to  the  right  to 
give  notice  of  any  attempt  at  a  flank  movement  in  that  direction. 
For  two  or  three  hours  the  cannonading  and  musketry  firing  were 
terrific,  and  as  the  detachment  moved  cautiously  along  through 
wood  or  brush  they  would  occasionally  come  out  upon  a  small 
clearing.  Most  of  us  were  not  familiar  with  the  fowls  of  the 
air  in  that  country  and  when  one  cries  out,  "Look,  boys,  see  that 
.eagle  flapping  his  wings  over  us;  that's  a  good  omen,"  it  was  a 
little  too  bad  for  Captain  Scranton  to  spoil  their  prettv  little  su- 


ALLEGED  OUTRAGES.  407 

perstitious  sentiment  by  replying,  "That!  why  that's  a  turkey 
buzzard  looking  for  dead  Yankees  or  rebs."  And  true 
enough,  there  they  sat,  great  lazy,  filthy  looking  creatures,  on 
limbs  of  old  dead  trees,  with  wings  wide  distended,  moving  as 
if  about  to  crow,  but  in  reality  airing  their  filth  bed  rabbled 
plumage. 


ALLEGED    OUTRAGES. 

That  there  were  many  outrages  perpetrated  upon  peaceable 
citizens  in  the  south  during  the  war  there  is  little  doubt.  Yet 
the  most  intelligent  were  disposed  to  make  due  allowance  if 
there  was  the  least  excuse. 

Among  the  many  closing  incidents  of  that  great  tragedy 
one  is  remembered  that  might  have  been  construed  as  inexcus 
able,  wanton,  or  something  terrible. 

When  the  veterans  of  Lee's  army  came  tramping  along  to 
wards  their  homes,  they  were  a  motley  crowd  and  their  piti 
able  condition  evoked  feelings  of  genuine  sympathy  among  the 
soldiers  of  the  Union  army.  If  a  squad  was  met  that  were  short 
of  rations,  the  boys  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  were 
always  ready  to  divide,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see 
one  of  our  soldiers  skirmish  around  for  a  pair  of  shoes,  to  wear 
which  would  be  better  than  "hoofing  it"  barefoot  all  the  way 
home;  and  some  even  went  so  far  as  to  take  the  shoes  from  their 
own  feet,  and  say,  "Here,  Johnny,  I  can  get  a  new  pair  when  I  get 
to  camp;  take  these,"  and  so  ride  on  in  his  stocking  feet. 

We  were  riding  along  from  Tuscaloosa  towards  Talladega, 
and  had  not  heard  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  seeing  a 
squad  of  perhaps  twenty-five  or  thirty  Confederates  feeding 


408  CAPTAIN    A  VERY. 

their  animals  by  the  roadside,  and  supposing  them  to  be  the  ad 
vance  guard  of  some  cavalry  force,  we  dashed  among  them  as 
brave  as  a  lot  of  sheep,  shooting  wildly,  with  the  object  of  creat 
ing  a  panic  and  causing  them  to  surrender  without  firing.  The 
Johnnies  scattered,  dodging  behind  mules,  fence  corners,  trees, 
bushes,  or  anything  that  would  afford  a  temporary  shelter; 
others  throwing  up  their  hands  in  token  of  surrender.  By  this 
time  we  discovered  an  old  white  rag  tied  to  a  stick,  in  a  not 
very  prominent  place,  and  ceased  firing.  We  then  began  to  see 
the  blunder  we  had  made  and  were  really  excited  by  the  fear 
that  we  had  hurt  some  one.  But  on  looking  around  we  discovered 
that  aside  from  killing  a  few  mules  and  wounding  a  few  we  had, 
fortunately,  done  some  very  poor  shooting. 

To  make  matters  all  pleasant  we  divided  up  with  the  boys, 
who  had  simply  stopped  there  to  feed  their  mules.  They  had 
gathered  up  the  worthless  tag  ends  of  the  army  mules  abandon 
ed  along  the  roads,  and  were  giving  them  their  time.  They 
each  had  a  parole  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  at  this 
particular  moment  had  found  an  abandoned  camp,  with  corn 
scattered  about  where  other  troops  had  been  feeding  their  ani 
mals. 

We  expected  to  see  this  chronicled  in  some  of  the  light 
caliber  papers  of  that  section  as  an  "outrage,"  but  were  agree  - 
ably  disappointed.  Yet  it  was  just  such  incidents  as  this  that 
gave  color  to  many  of  the  so-called  "outrages." 


CAPTAIN   A  VERY. 

Beauregard  had  one  officer   that  could  go  back  to  his  friends 
and  say  a  good  word  for  the  Yankees. 


CAPTAIN    AVERT.  409 

It  was  on  June  10th,  1862,  below  Booneville,  Mississippi, 
that  the  Second,  with  company  K  in  advance,  pressing  the  near 
guard  of  the  Confederates,  saw  a  single  horseman  in  gray  pants, 
but  coatless,  his  light  calico  shirt  sleeves  flapping  in  the  breeze, 
gallop  gracefully  down  towards  us.  At  first  we  thought  him  the 
advance  of  a  squadron  about  to  charge  upon  us.  We  were  dis 
mounted,  deployed  across  the  road,  and  every  man  meant  six 
shots  from  an  unerring  rifle. 

There  were  just  trees  enough  to  conceal  about  half  our  men; 
and  before  they  had  time  to  think  what  it  meant,  the  young  of 
ficer,  speaking  in  a  low  but  distinct  voice,  said,  "Come  on,  boys," 
evidently  supposing  them  to  be  his  own  men.  His  horse  stop 
ped  and  he  was  just  in  the  act  of  turning  the  other  way  when 
forty  rifles  were  leveled  at  him,  and  "Halt,"  "halt,"  rang  out 
from  as  many  throats. 

There  was  agony  in  the  voice  of  that  young  lieutenant,  as 
he  shouted  "Don't  shoot,"  and  rushed  betw-een  the  line  of  rifles  and 
the  young  Confederate  officer.  Who  will  say  it  was  mistaken  zeal 
that  prompted  him  to  save  the  life  of  one  whose  hand  was  raised 
against  us?  Was  it  not,  rather,  admiration  for  the  cool  bravery 
of  the  man  under  trying  circumstances  ? 

He  instantly  saw  his  mistake  and  moved  up  to  our  lines, 
and  was  our  prisoner.  It  proved  to  be  Captain  (afterwards 
Colonel)  Avery,  of  a  Georgia  cavalry  regiment;  and  during  his 
stay  of  two  or  three  days  with  us  captor  and  captive  shared  the 
^ame  blanket  and  mess,  and  an  attachment  sprang  up  between 
them  that  has  been  remembered  since  the  war,  by  a  correspond 
ence  and  mutual  expressions  of  good  feeling. 

The  Booneville  fight  of  July  1st  was  probably  a  sequel  to 
Captain  Avery's  visit  to  our  camp. 


410  LOOMIS  8  BATTERY. 

It  has  been  a  wonder  to  many  how  Loomis's  battery  did  so- 
much  valuable  service  and  so  much  accurate  shooting.  Loomis 
was  not  a  West  Pointer,  but  received  his  first  military  education 
under  Captain  Lewis,  who  commanded  the  Coldwater  artillery 
in  the  three  months'  service.  Captain  Lewis  did  not  feel  like 
sacrificing  his  business  for  three  years,  and  so  Lieutenant  Loom- 
is  was  made  captain,  and  soon  the  fame  of  the  Loomis  battery 
became  national,  and  was  probably  dreaded  more  by  the  Con 
federates  than  any  other  battery  in  the  service. 

One  of  the  gunners  of  that  battery  says:  "We  belonged  to- 
General  O.  M.  Mitchell's  brigade,  and  that  officer  took  great 
pride  when  we  were  at  Bacon  Creek,  Kentucky,  in  taking  us 
out  to  guess  on  distances,  and  soon  we  thought  it  a  poor  guess  if 
we  did  not  explode  our  first  shell  within  fifty  yards  of  the  object 
fired  at,  and  the  second  shot  almost  invariably  struck  just  where 
we  wanted  it  to." 

At  Perryville,  the  second  shot  fired  by  this  battery  explod 
ed  beneath  the  guns  of  the  celebrated  Washington  battery  (Con 
federate),  three-quarters  of  a  mile  away,  and  drove  the  best 
battery  of  the  south  from  their  position. 

At  Stone  River,  Loomis's  battery  dismounted  the  guns  of 
half  a  dozen  batteries  of  the  enemy,  and  rendered  them  almost 
powerless  in  their  operations  against  that  part  of  the  field. 

At  Athens,  Alabama,  when  the  troops  under  General  O.  M. 
Mitchell  approached  that  place,  Loomis's  battery  took  up  a  posi 
tion  over-looking  the  railroad.  A  train  of  cars  was  pulling  out 
rapidly  in  their  evacuation  of  that  place.  "Stop  that  train," 
•>said  Mitchell.  The  first  shot  struck  the  top  of  the  cab.  The 
second  struck  beneath  the  engine,  entirely  demolishing  the  drive- 


A    LONELY    GRAVE,  411 

wheels  and  bringing  the  train  up  short,  all  of  a  heap.  The 
staid  old  atlas  maker  spatted  his  hands  like  a  school  boy.  "Well 
done,  boys;"  and  from  that  time  forward  the  reputation  of  the 
battery  kept  steadily  onward  in  favor  with  all  whose  fortune 
brought  them  snugly  beneath  their  protecting  wings. 

At  Chicamauga  Loomis's  battery  was  cut  off  by  a  flanking 
force  of  the  enemy  and  lost  four  of  her  six  guns.  At  the  mo 
ment  of  their  greatest  peril  the  gunners  of  those  four  guns  were 
heroically  working  their  pieces,  rapidly  firing  canister  at  the 
front,  when  the  officer  in  command  shouted  to  them,  "Limber 
up!"  but  he  might  as  well  have  shouted  in  the  face  of  the  mighty 
Niagara;  and  only  until  shots  from  their  rear  gave  them  warn 
ing  did  they  discover  that  the  flank  was  tuned.  Then  they 
"limbered  up,"  but  it  was  too  late.  Horses  were  shot  at  the 
guns  and  there  was  nothing  left  but  to  save  themselves.  They 
turned  to  fly  and  run  into  the  arms  of  the  enemy,  where  but  a 
few  moments  .before  our  own  infantry  had  stood  resolutely 
firing. 


A    LONELY  GRAVE. 

Every  soldier  hoped  for  a  respectable  burial,  yet  it  is  doubt 
ful  if  all  would  not  have  chosen  the  trench  with  hundreds  or 
thousands  of  others  hurriedly  thrown  along  side  of  them,  rather 
than  a  grave  by  the  roadside,  in  a  lonely  wood,  without  the  sol 
dier's  glory  of  dying  on  the  battlefield. 

Yet  thousands  were  stricken  by  camp  fevers  or  kindred 
complaints,  and  if  they  recovered  were  perhaps  left  with  a  lin- 


412  A    LONELY    GKA\  K. 

gering  weakness  that  drove  them  to  the  pension  office  with  its 
humiliations,  and  are  perhaps  to-day  but  physical  wrecks  with 
one  foot  in  the  grave. 

A  sudden  death  and  burial  under  peculiarly  sad  circumstan 
ces,  occurred  below  Corinth,  while  the  regiment  was  on  the 
march  from  Rienzi  to  Pine  Hills.  Leo  Cook,  a  private  detailed 
on  account  of  his  small  stature  and  youthful  appearance  to  the 
charge  of  a  wagon,  was  discovered  crawling  into  an  old  cotton 
gin,  as  the  regiment  went  into  an  early  camp  near  Corinth.  On 
being  questioned  it  was  discovered  he  had  rode  all  day  but  was 
quite  sick.  The  information  being  brought  to  the  lieutenant 
commanding  the  company,  an  ambulance  was  sent,  and  the  poor 
boy  brought  to  camp.  The  surgeons  were  busy  elsewhere  and 
not  knowing  what  else  to  do,  a  bath  was  ordered  until  the  sur 
geons  should  come  up.  He  was  placed  on  a  cot  covered  nicely 
with  clean  blankets,  and  as  he  settled  down  apparently  comfort 
able  he  seemed  quite  worried  for  a  moment  lest  he  should  be 
thought  trying  to  shirk  his  duties,  saying,  "I  kept  up  as  long  as 
I  could,  Lieutenant." 

"Yes,  too  long,  I  fear,"  was  the  sympathetic  reply. 

It  was  the  last  he  spoke,  but  sank  away  to  a  quiet  sleep,  and 
while  the  warm  June  sun  dropped  "lower  and  lower  among  the 
trees  his  breath  grew  shorter,  shorter,  and  ceased,  before  we  had 
even  thought  him  dangerously  ill.  It  seemed  cruel  to  lay  him 
away  in  the  ground  within  the  same  hour,  but  more  cruel  still 
would  it  have  been  to  have  kept  him  till  morning  and  perhaps 
Jiave  been  compelled  to  leave  him  hurriedly  for  an  enemy  to  bury 
or  for  carrion  fowls  to  tear  and  rend  piecemeal.  And  so,  the 


DIED    GAME A    YOUTHFUL    SOLDIER.  413 

roadside  lonely  grave  was  dug,  and,  wrapped  in  his  martial 
blanket,  the  body  was  laid  to  rest,  the  company  volley  fired,  and 
many  a  tear  moistened  the  grave  of  this  our  favorite  boy  soldier. 


DIED    GAME. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  coward  is  transformed  into  a  hero  and 
dies  game  inside  of  five  minutes.  Colonel  Ben  Smith,  at  Dan- 
dridge,  saw  one  of  his  new  recruits  that  had  never  been  under 
fire,  start  to  slink  away.  "Come  here;  let  me  see  your  gun;  I 
see  you  have  it  loaded  with  six  good  bullets.  You  are  equal  to 
six  men.  We  need  you.  Take  your  position  by  that  tree;  keep 
cool  and  let's  see  what  you  can  do."  The  man  obeyed;  fired  his 
six  shots  as  if  he  had  been  shooting  ducks,  and  fell  riddled  with 
bullets. 


A    YOUTHFUL    SOLDIER. 

We  were  approaching  Corinth.  The  Confederates  under 
Beauregard  made  a  sortie  upon  our  advance,  and  a  severe  engage 
ment  was  heard  in  the  vicinity  of  Farmington. 

Troops  were  hurrying  forward  rapidly  to  the  support  of  our 
imperiled  center.  Among  the  regiments  under  General  Payne 
was  the  eighth  Wisconsin,  with  the  famous  eagle,  OldAbe,  scream 
ing  and  flapping  his  wings  in  apparent  glee. 

A  boy,  not  more  than  14,  and  small  of  his  age,  was  seen 
following  along  in  rear  of  the  eighth,  with  a  musket  on  his  shoul- 


414  COURTING    DEATH. 

der,  twice  as  long  as  himself,  crying  as  if  his  heart  would  break. 

"What's  the  matter,  boy  ?" 

"They  don't  want  me  to  go;  said  I  must  stay  and  help  take 
care  of  the  camp;  I  want  to  go-o-o,  I  can  shoot  jess  as  well  as  any 
of  'em,"  and  on  he  trudged,  with  shell  screeching  and  whirring; 
bullets  zipping  and  hissing  uncomfortably  close  overhead. 

They  were  soon  lost  in  the  smoke  and  tumult  of  battle. 
The  enemy  having  accomplished  their  object  (apparently  an 
armed  reconnaissance)  they  retired  to  Corinth,  and  soon  the  eighth 
Wisconsin  were  again  seen  retiring  to  their  camp.  As  they  halt 
ed  by  the  roadside  we  were  again  attracted  to  "Old  Abe"  and 
the  youthful  soldier,  as  he  stood  with  a  group  talking  over  the 
-events  of  the  hour.  Having  a  little  curiosity  to  hear  how  the 
boy  had  stood  the  trial,  we  drew  nearer.  He  had  his  say  with 
the  rest,  as  cool  as  any  of  them,  when  we  discovered  what  ap 
peared  to  be  a  small  hole  through  the  visor  of  his  cap,  cocked 
back  upon  his  head.  Reaching  down  we  took  his  cap  from  his 
head,  remarking,  "What  is  that  hole  in  your  cap?" 

He  took  it;  looked  at  it  for  an  instant;  turned  pale  as  death; 
reflected  a  few  moments,  and  philosophically  remarked:  "Gosh, 
boys!  I  wished  I  was  bigger  a  while  ago,  but  if  I  had  been,  where'd 
I  be  now  ?" 

His  interest  in  the  conversation  was  gone,  but  that  old  cap 
had  a  new  value  to  him. 


COURTING  DEATH. 

•*     Occasionally  men  were  found  toj   stubborn   to    yield,    and 
would  rather  die  than  turn  their  backs  upon    the    enemy,    even 


TOO    MUCH    GOLD DISCIPLINE.  415 

when  wiser  men  thought  "discretion  the  better  part  of  valor." 
Such  a  man  was  Harvey  Olmstead,  of  Company  0,  who  at  Se- 
vereville,  East  Tennessee,  during  a  temporary  reverse  (the  three 
companies  in  advance  falling  back  before  a  whole  division  of 
the  enemy),  remained  unflinchingly  behind  his  tree,  firing  with 
death  dealing  precision,  and  in  his  kneeling  attitude  coolly  drew 
a  bead  so  long  as  he  could  raise  the  gun  or  pull  a  trigger,  though 
he  was  known  to  be  wounded  long  before  his  last  shot  was  fired, 
and  probably  his  life's  blood  was  oozing  away.  When  his  body 
was  afterward  recovered,  it  was  found  to  be  literally  riddled 
with  bullets. 


TOO  MUCH  GOLD. 

It  would  probably  have  remained  a  secret  who  committed 
the  robberies  at  Tuscaloosa  had  it  not  been  discovered  by  an 
accident. 

Crossing  a  stream,  one  of  our  men  was  thrown  into  deep 
water  from  his  horse  and  sank  without  coming  to  the  surface,  as 
a  drowning  man  usually  does.  This  led  to  inquiry  as  to  the 
cause,  when  it  was  ascertained  the  man  was  heavily  loaded  with 
gold,  in  belts  about  his  body.  If  there  were  others  in  the  same 
condition,  it  was  known  to  but  few. 


DISCIPLINE. 

Officers  of  volunteer  regiments  often  committed    egregious 


416  THE    LAST    BATTLE. 

blunders  in  matters  of  discipline,  and  were  sometimes  "brought 
up  short." 

A  major  of  the  Second  was  placed  on  duty  as  "officer  of  the 
day,"  and  while  on  his  rounds  among  the  pickets,  would  stop  to 
chat  and  joke  with  the  boys.  Arriving  at  guard  headquarters 
he  saw  some  hogs  in  a  pen,  and  the  thought  occurred  to  him  that 
some  fresh  pork  might  not  be  amiss.  His  hint,  "Boys,  don't  let 
those  hogs  jump  over  the  fence  and  bite  you,"  was  acted  upon, 
and  one  company  of  the  regiment  had  fresh  pork  for  a  day  or 
two;  but  the  major  was  arrested,  "disciplined, "and  soon  after 
left  the  service  "in  poor  health." 


THE    LAST    BATTLE. 

Numerous  battles  have  been  written  up  as  "the  last  fight  oi 
the  rebellion."  Without  disputing  in  regard  to  the  matter  it  is 
a  fact,  not  generally  known,  that  a  battalion  (the  saber  battal 
ion)  of  the  second  Michigan  cavalry,  under  brevet  Major  Whit- 
temore,  charged  the  force  (1,000  men)  under  General  Hill,  near 
Talladega,  Alabama,  on  the  2Md  of  April,  1865,  and  was  sup 
ported  by  the  regiment  and  brigade,  scattering  the  entire  Con 
federate  force  and  capturing  the  artillery,  and  many  prisoners. 
This  was  fourteen  days  after  the  surrender  at  Appomattox, 
and  therefore  quite  late  enough  after  a  cessation  of  hostilities. 
The  next  day  the  country  was  filled  with  small  parties  returning 
home — a  sadly  broken  down  people. 


H 


TER. 


PART  THIRD 


ENGAGEMENTS  PARTICIPATED  IN  BY  THE  SECOND 
MICHIGAN  CAVALRY— ROLL  OF  HONOR— THE  AD 
JUTANT'S  REMARKS— THE  ROSTER. 


ENGAGEMENTS. 

During  its  four  years  of  service  the  Second  Michigan  Cavalry  had  engaged 
Ihe  enemy  at  the  following  places  : 

Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  ^M arch  9,  1862  ;  Tiptonville,   Mo..   March,    1862;    New 


_ .  .  ,  Mississippi, 

June  7,  1862  ;  Boonevillc,  Mississippi,  July  1,  1862  ;  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  August, 
1862;  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  September,  1862  ;  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8.  1862; 
Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  October  10,  1862;  Lancaster,  Ky.,  October'l2,  1862  :  Rockcas 
tie  River,  Ky..  October,  1862  ;  Estillville,  Va.,  December  30,  1862  ;  Blountsville, 
Tenn.,  December  30,  1862;  Zolicoffer,  Tenn.,  December,  1862;  Watauga,  Tenn.j 
December  30,  1862 ;  Jonesville,  Va.,  January  2,  1863 :  Bacon  Creek,  Ky., 
December  24,  1862,  Glasgow,  Ky.,  December.  1862;  Milton,  Tenn..  February  18, 
1863;  Gainesville,  Tenn.,  February  19,  1863;  Spring  Hill,  Term.,  February  29, 
1863:  Columbia,  Tenn.,  March  4  and  5,  1863:  Hillsboro,  Teun.,  March  12,  1863; 
Brentwood,  Tenn  ,  March  25,  1863  ;  McGarrick's  Ford,  Tenn.,  April, 1863;  Triune, 
Tenn.,  June  4,  1863;  Rover,  Tenn.,  June  23,  1863;  Middletown,  Tenn.,  June  24, 
1863;  Shelby ville,  Tenn.,  June  27.  1863;  Elk  River  Ford,  Tenn.,  July  2,  1863; 
Decherd,  Tenn.,  July  4.  1863;  LnFayette,  September  17,  1863;  Chicamauga. 
Ga.,  September  19  and  20,  1863;  Anderson  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.,  October,  1863; 
Sparta,  Tenn.,  December,  1863:  Dandridge,  Tenn..  December  24,  1863;  Mossy 
Creek,  Tenn.,  December  29,  1863;  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  January  17,  1864;  Severe- 
ville,  Tenn.,  January,  1864;  Pigeon  River/Tenn.,  January  27,  1864;  Dug  Gap 
Ga.,  May  13  and  14,  1864;  Red  Clay,  Ga.,  May.  1864;  Etowah  River.  Ga..  May 
24,  26,  27  and  28,  1864;  Ackworth,  Tenn.,  June  2  and  5.  1864;  Nashville,  Tenn., 
August  30,  1864;  Campbell  ville,  Tenn..  September  5,  1864;  Resaca;  Franklin, 


ROLL    OF    HONOR. 

Term.,  September  27,  1864;  Cypress  River,  Term.,  October  7.  1864;  Raccoon  Ford 
Term.,  October  30,  1864;  Shoal  Creek,  Tenn.,  Novembers,  1864;  Florence/ Ala. ; 
Lawrenceburg.  Tenn.,  November  24,  1864;  Campbellsville,  Tenn.,  November  24, 
1864;  Columbia,  Tenn.,  November  25,  26  and  27,  1864;  Spring  Hill,  Tenn.,  No 
vember  29,  1864;  Bethesda  Church,  Tenn.,  November  29,  1864;  Franklin,  Tenn., 
November  30,  1864;  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  15  and  16,  1864;  Richland  Creek, 
December  24,  1864;  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  December  25,  1864:  Sugar  Creek,  Tenn., 
December  26,  1864;  Price's  Tanyard,  Tenn.,  January  6.  1865;  Corinth,  Mississippi, 
February,  1865;  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  April  1,  1865;  Trion,  Ala.,  April  2,  1865; 
Bridgcville,  Ala.,  April  6,  1865;  Talladega,  Ala,  April  23,  1865. 


ROLL  OF  HONOR. 

We  find  it  impossible  to  make  a  perfect  record  of  deaths  from  wounds.  Very 
many  were  discharged  for  disability,  and  there  the  record  ends.  How  many  of 
them  "went  home  to  die"  will  never  be  known.  The  number  wounded  does'not 
appear  on  the  rolls,  and,  therefore,  the  following  is  only  approximately  correct. 
To  die  in  hospital,  or  on  furlough,  while  yet  in  the  service  of  one's  country,  should 
be  considered  as  great  an  honor  as  to  die  on  the  field,  if  the  record  was  good, 
and  therefore,  all  such  have  been  included  in  the  Roll  of  Honor.  Some  were 
reported  as  missing  in  action  who  afterwards  returned;  only  a  few,  however. 

COMPANY  A. 

Stiff,  Corporal  David  D.,  died  at  Triune,  Tenn.,  June  11,  1863,  of  wounds  received 
in  action. 

Burga,  John,  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  hospital  at  Farmington,  Mis«.,  July  9,  1862. 

Booth,  James  L.,  shot  by  the  enemy  while  on  picket  duty  near  Point  Pleasant, 
Mo.,  March  7,  1862. 

Bartlett,  Irwin  C.,  killed  in  action  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  September  28, 1864.  Re-en 
listed  January  5,  1864. 

Oliver,  Jerome,  wounded.     Discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  December  17,  1862. 

Parker,  Leonard,  wounded.  Discharged  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  27,  1862.  Died 
June  3,  1862,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Ross,  James,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  24,  1862. 

Redson,  Thomas,  wounded.     Discharged  for  disability  at  Detroit,  August  8,  1S62. 

Averill,  Emerson  M.,  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  20, 
1864. 

Brangne,  Sanders  S.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  August  2o.  1864. 

Beach,  John  W.,  killed  in  action  near  Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  December  29,  1863. 

Conklin,  John  E.,  died  at  Nicholasville,  March,  1863. 

Deming,  Orin  B,  killed  in  action  at  Lynnville,  Tenn  .  December  14,  1864. 

Gressfell,  Abraham,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  14,  1864. 

Koster,  William,  died  of  measles  in  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May  2,  1864. 

Richardson,  Henry  F.,  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Jefferson,  Mo.,  May  10.  1865. 

Stine,  Jacob  C.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  14,  1864. 

COMPANY    B. 

Rogers,  First  Lieut.  Philo  W.,  died  of  disease  at  Evansville,  Ind.,  May  17,  1862. 
Loveless,  Corporal  Lewis  M.,  died  of   typhoid  fever  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  June  3, 

1862. 

Dunn.  Corporal  Levi.  died  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  July  19,  1862. 
Fairfield,  Elbridgc,  died  of  disease  at  Si.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  28.  1862. 
Ben,  Ezra,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  May  1.  1862. 
Boyer,  Joseph,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis,   Jan'y  18,  1862. 
Baruum,  Dwight,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  April  14.  1862. 
Beers,  Uriah,  died  of  pneumonia  ut  St.  Louis,  December  2,  1862. 
Berham,  Henry  C,  died  of  typhoid  fever  near  Farmington,   Miss..  July  14,  1862. 
Crabtree  Charles,  died  at  Evansville,  Ind.,  September  15,  1862. 


ROLL    OF    HONOR.  5 

I)ow,  Peter,  died  of  typhoid  fever  near  Farmington,  Mississippi,  August  22,  1862. 
Ellis,  Eugene,  missing  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  December  24,  1863.     Died 

of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Andersonville,  May  20,  1864. 
Hull.  George,  died  at  Henderson,  Ky.,  May  24,  1862. 
Kiche,  Francis,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Hamburg  Landing,  Tenn. 
Jones,  Bratfore  B,,  died  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  October  8,  1862. 
Losely,  Lorenzo  D.,  died  of  measles  at  St.  Louis,  December  2,  1861. 
Lisco,  Rufus,  died  of  typhoid  fever  near  Farmington,   Mississippi,  June  29,  1862. 
O'Neil,,  Jerome,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  June  27,  1862. 
Olmstead,  Morris,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  (>,  1864,  from  accidental  shot. 
Russell,  Reuben  O.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  on  board  hospital  boat.  May  9,  1862. 
Thompson,  William,  died  of  consumption  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  July  25,  1862. 
Watson,  Edward,  died  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  July  24,  1862. 
Barnum,  David,  died  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  February  25,  1864. 
Beasey,  David  D.,  died  of  disease  at  Waterloo,  Ala.,  March  16.  1865. 
Beasey,  Oliver  B.,  died  of  abscess  of  the  head  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  July  4, 1864. 
Birch,  Edwin  A.,  killed  in  action  at  Oxford,  Ala.,  April  23,  1865. 
Cole,  Hiram,  died  of  consumption  at  Charlotte,  Mich.,  July  20,  1862. 
Coon,  Andrew  B.,  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Cahawba,  Ala.,  March  25,  1865. 
Hackett,  Emory  E.,  died  of  bronchitis  at  Jefferson,  Ind.,  January  15,  1865. 
Hart,  Holland,  killed  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  December  24,  1863. 
Lowe,  William,  killed  in  action  at  Lavergne,  Tenn.,  September  1,  1864. 
Shirk,  Alfred,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  September  30,  1862. 

COMPANY  c. 

Bailey,  Judson  D.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  February  20, 

1862. 
Bliss,  Rufus  W.,  died  of  inflammatory  rheumatism  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  January  24, 

1862. 

Fifield,  William  II.,  killed  in  action  at  Shoal  Creek,  Tenn.,  Novembers,  1864. 
Hooper,  Joseph  E.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  April  9.  1862. 
Marsac,  Franklin  R.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Evansville,  August  16,  1862. 
Marsnc,  Daniel  C.,  re-enlisted  January  5,    1864.     Died  of  wounds  at  Nashville, 

Tenn.,  January  10,  1865. 

Moon,  John  D.,  died  of  disease  of  the  heart  at  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  August  1,  1862. 
Olmstead,  Harvey,  killed  in  action 'at  Fair  Garden,  Tenn.,  January  28,  1864. 
Reynolds,  Cyrus,  died  at  Chaplin  Hill,  Ky.,  October  8,1862,  of  wounds  received  in 

action. 

Reid.  Henry  L,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Farmington,  July  7,  1862. 
Story, George  W.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  24,  1862. 
Stcele,  Elisha,  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Andersonville  Prison.  Ga. ,  May  20, 1864. 
Schenck,  William  J.,  died  at  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  December  11,  1861. 
Wilson,  Joseph,  died  of  chronic  diarrhea  at  Wyoming,    Kent  County,  May  29, 

1862. 

Watson,  Henry  G.,  died  at  Chaplin  Hill,  Ky..  October  8, 1862,  of  gun-shot  wound. 
Young,  Jasper  J.,  died  at  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  December  12,  1861. 
Young,  Franklin  E.,  died  at  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  of  typhoid  fever. 
Bonny,  Lvman,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  17,  1864. 
Delano,  Eben  R..  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  4,  1864 
Dennis,  Isaac  S.,  killed  in  action  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  14,  1864. 
Dicker,  William  II.,  died  at  Burnt  Hickory,  Ga.,  May  20,  1864,  of  wounds  received 

in  action. 

Farnsworth,  George  W.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Chattanooga,  May  28,  1864. 
Frceland,  Charles,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Chattanooga,  May  28.  1864. 
Hiser.  Christian,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  13,  1864. 
Garrett,  Solon  II.,  missing  in  action  at  Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  December  29,  1863. 

Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  May  20.  1864. 

Kelly,  Michael,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  New  Madrid,  April  4,  1862. 
McNeil,  James,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Nashville,  Tenn..  July  15,  1865. 
Pike,  Benjamin,  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  September  16,  1864. 

COMPANY    D. 

Landon,  Q.  M.  Almon,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  May  30,  1862. 


6  ROLL    OF    HONOR. 

Jackson,  Sergeant  William  L.,  killed  in  action  at  Blountsville,  East  Ten n.,  De 
cember  30.  1862. 

Crine,  Corporal  Charles  W.,  died  at  Perry ville,  Ky.,  October  9,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  in  action,  October  8,  1862. 

Vandusan,  James,  died  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs  at  Benton  Barracks,  Mo., 
December  3,  1861. 

Esgett,  Corporal  Harry  J.,  died  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  June  4,  1863,  of  wounds 
received  in  action. 

Hicks,  Farrier  Henry  H.,  died  from  exposure  at  Evansville,   Ind.,  May  16,  1862. 

Spencer, -Wagoner  Elmer,  died  from  exposure  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  April  22,  1862. 

Alden,  Justin,  killed  in  action  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862. 

Blakesly,  Levi  S.,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Tenn.,  June  25,  1862. 

Bom,  John,  died  of  pneumonia  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  8,  1862. 

Boer,  Peter,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  August  1,  ISfW. 

Cheney,  Riifus/died  of  erysipelas  at  New  Madrid,  Mo..  April  12,  1862. 

Campbell,  James,  died  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  January 
25,  1862. 

Cbatfield,  James,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  9,  1863. 

Degroot,  Albert,  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  May  24,  1864. 

Kelly,  Hiram,  died  of  pneumonia  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  August  15,  1862. 

Lesperance,  Enos,  died  of  small-pox  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  23,  1864. 

Richards,  Charles  L.,  died  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs  at  St.  Louis,  Mo  ,  Janu 
ary  30,  1862. 

Shilling,  William,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  4,  1863. 

Stansbury,  Jacob,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  10,  1862. 

Smith,  George  W.,  died  June  4,  1863,  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  of  wounds  received  in 
action. 

Vanhaltren,  Benjamin,  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  November  17,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862. 

White,  William  H.,  died  of  abscess  in  throat  at  Farmington,  Miss.,  July  10,  1862. 

Braman,  Charles,  died  at  Andersonville,  May  24,  1864. 

Eaton,  Joseph  M.,  died  of  disease  at  Atlanta.  Ga.,  August  20,  1865. 

French,  Delos,  died  of  disease  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  August  21,  1864. 

Fry,  Charles,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  11,  1865. 

Hanson,  Frederick  H.,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  23,  1864,  of  wounds 
received  in  action. 

Hertsman,  Adam,  killed  in  action  atLynnville,  Tenn.,  December  24.  1864. 

Hill,  David,  supposed  killed  by  explosion  of  steamer  Sultana,  April  28,  1865. 

Johnson,  John,  supposed  killed  by  explosion  of  steamer  Sultana,  April  28,  1865. 

Losee,  Mark,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  3,  1864. 

Perrigo,  John,  missing  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  December  24,  1863.  Died 
at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  May  24,  1864. 

Quant,  James,  killed  in  action  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  November  30,  1864. 

Seymour,  Frank,  died  of  disease  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  May  3,  1863. 

Vilt,  George,  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  May  22,1864. 

Vanhaltren,  Gerritt,  missing  in  action  at  Bent  Church,  May  30,  1864.  Died  at 
Andersonville,  Ga. 

Vanhaltren,  Gismith,  died  in  rebel  prison. 

COMPANY    E. 

Mapes,  Sergeant  Abram,  jr.,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  March  31,  1862. 

Lee,  Corporal  James,  died  June  24,  1862,  of  wounds  received  in  action,  at  Far 
mington,  Mississippi. 

Lanbach,  Corporal  Edwin  II,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  July  12, 
1862. 

Ryan,  Saddler  Peter,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mp.,  February  7.  is«52. 

Allen^  Andrew,  died  of  disease  at  Rienzi,  Mississippi,  August  19,  isr»2. 

Hoag.  Wendolin.  died  of  disease  atRien/i.  Mississippi,  August  8,  1H52. 

Mellett,  Lawrence,  died  July  3,  1862,  at  Rienzi.JMississippi,  of  wounds  received  in 
action.  July  1,  1862. 

Matthew,  Charles,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  9,  1864. 

Orman,  Elon,  killed  in  action  at  Thomas  Station,  March  5, 1863. 

Oleson,  Nelson,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn..  July  1,  1864. 


ROLL    OF    HONOR.  7 

Willey,  Lewis,  died  at  Louisville,  November  5,  1862,  of  injuries  received  by  being 
run  over  by  a  wagon. 

Root,  James,  died  of  disease  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  May  20,  1862. 

Warren,  Trask.  died  of  disease  at  Jeffersonville,  July  19,  1864. 

McNaughton,  Duncan,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  April  20,  1862. 

Bailey,  Alanson  B.,  died  of  disease  at  Edgefleld,  Tenn  ,  July  19,  1865. 

Henry,  Charles,  lost  on  steamer  Sultana,  near  Memphis,  by  explosion  and  burnino- 
April  28,  1865. 

Hermich,  Charles,  lost  on  steamer  Sultana,  near  Memphis,  by  explosion  and  burn 
ing,  April  28,  1865. 

Jacobs,  George  E.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  17   1864  ' 

Kendrick,  James,  lost  on  steamer  Sultana. 

Knight,  John,  missing  inaction  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  November  30,  1864. 

Law,  George,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  9,  1864.  ' 

Lindsley,  William  S.,  lost  on  steamer  Sultana. 

Lender,  Charles,  died  of  small-pox,  May  4,  1865. 

McDonald,  Donald,  died  at  Mason,  July  28,  1865. 

Maxon,  Charles,  died  in  Southern  prison. 

Moody,  Daniel,  killed  in  action  near  Louisville,  September  30,  1862. 

Moody,  Watson  D.,  missing  in  action  at  Oxford,  Ala.,  April  26,  1865. 

Mergan,  Martin  C,  missing  in  action  at  Dandridge,  December  24,  1864. 

Thompson,  John,  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks.  Mo.,  April  12,  1865 

Wolfram,  Chauncy,  died  in  Southern  prison,  December  20,  1864. 

COMPANY    F. 

Lorenzo,  Buckley,  died  at  Keokuk,  March,  1863. 

Bradford,  J.  A.,  missing  in  action  at  Blackland,  Mississippi,  June  24   1862 
Suel,  Amos,  died  at  Rienzi,  July  10,  1862. 
Bichler,  Christian,  died  at  Commerce,  Mo.,  March  11,  1862. 
Bates,  Austin,  died  at  Evansville,  October  4,  1864. 
Caswell,  John,  died  of  small-pox,  March  1,  1862. 
Demoray,  L.  A.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Winchester,  August  5  1863 
Davis,  John,  died  at  Corinth,  October  15,  1882. 
Fullington,  Lucian  B.,  died  at  St.  Louis,  July  6,  1882. 
Fitch,  Morris  E.,  died  of  wounds  at  Franklin,  March  26,  1863. 
Fullington,  George  W.,  missing  in  action  at  Spring  Hill    November  29   1864 
Keeney,  C.  L.,  died  at  St.  Louis,  September  5,  1862. 
Moore,  Joseph,  died  in  hospital,  September  24,  1863. 
Norton,  George,  died  at  Rienzi,  July  28,  1862. 
Ravick,  W.  C.,  missing  in  action  at  Triune,  June  11,  1863. 
Weaver,  Caleb  F.,  died  in  hospital  at  Cowan,  Tenn.,  October  2  1863 
Baxter,  Theodore,  died  at  Knoxville,  April  2,  1864. 
Bradford,  Charles,  died  at  Annapolis,  March  21,  1865. 
Cadwell,  A.  S.,  died  at  Franklin,  March  7,  1863. 
Clapson,  A  S.,  died  at  Nashville,  March  8,  1864. 
Core,  William,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  Ala.,  January  9    1865 
Glasson,  A.  A.,  died  at  Nashville,  March  8,  1864. 

Helmer,  George,  missing  in  action  at  Spring  Hill,  Tenn.,  November  29    1864 
Kellogg,  Daniel  H  ,  missing  inaction  at  Macon,  Ga.,  July  26    1864 
King,  E.  II.,  died  at  Nashville,  February  1,  1864. 
Lynch,  John,  killed  in  action  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  April  2,  1864. 
McCaslin,  William,  died  at  Nashville,  Seotember  10,  1864 
Mclntyre,  Arza,  died  at  Mound  City,  111.,  February  22,  1865 
Murphy,  Thomas  J.,  died  at  Nashville,  September  5    1864 
Myers,  Henry  E.,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  June  22,  1864. 

Randall  James  N.,  died  January  2, 1864,  of  wounds  'received  in  action  at  Mossy 
Creek,  December  29. 

COMPANY  G. 

Hawley,  Captain  James,  killed  at  Chicamauga.  September  20,  1863. 
Ainsworth,  James  E.,  died  at  Rien/.i,  July  15,  1862. 
Allen,  LeRoy,  died  at  Franklin,  April  13,  1863. 
Benedict,  Norman,  died  at  Keokuk,  August  22,  1862. 


8  ROLL    OF    HONOR. 

Smith,  Captain  James  H., "missing  in  action;  left  on  the  field,  wounded,  at  Dan- 

dridge,  December  24, 1863. 

Arnold,  Jerry,  died  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  April  14,  1862. 
Brock,  William,  died  of  quick  consumption  at  Reading,  Mich.,  May  23,  1862. 
Cone,  Austin,  died  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  June  16,  1862. 
Ford,  Alton  S,  died  at  Jefferson,  May  22,  1862. 
Fleetwood,  Ansel,  died  at  New  Madrid,  April  11,  1862. 
Martin,  William  B.,  died  at  Chattanooga,  October  18,  1863. 
Tuttle,  William,  died  at  Camp Benton,  Mo.,  December  4,  1861. 
Wilson,  Bradly,    died  at  Libby  prison,  November  3,  1863, 
Adams,  Oscar,  killed  by  guerrillas  near  Sparta,  Tenn.,  November  29,  1863. 
Boyle,  Charles,  killed  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  December  24,  1863. 
Brown,  D.  E.,  died  at  Keokuk,  1862. 

Carry,  John  A.,  died  at  Nashville,  April  4,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action. 
Groves,  William  H.,  died  at  Nashville,  November  12,  1863. 
Harwick,  George,  died  at  Chattanooga,  July  13.  1864. 
Norton,  Joseph  H.,  died  at  Nicholasville,  January  6,  1863. 

COMPANY  H. 

Harvey,  Robert  M.,  died  at  St.  Louis,  December  14,  1861. 

Beutter,  George,  drowned  in  Harpeth  river,  while  on  a  scout,  May  15,  1863. 

Bryant,  Silas,  died  at  Farmington,  Mississippi,  August  5,  1862. 

Clark,  John,  died  in  hospital  at  St.  Louis,  February  26,  1862. 

Dodge,  Albert  F,,  died  at  Hamburg,  Tenn.,  May  14,  1862. 

Morey,  Charles  B.,  died  on  furlough,  April  1,  1864. 

Smith,  Oscar,  died  at  Rienzi,  August  4,  1862. 

Phillips,  James  R.,  missing  in  action,  April  5,  1863. 

Donnelly,  Daniel,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  December  26,  1864. 

Johnson,  Robert,  died  at  St.  Louis,  December  8,  1864. 

Kinney,  Andrew,  died  at  St.  Louis,  December  26,  1861. 

Lewis,  A.,  died  at  home  on  furlough. 

Pennell,  James  E.,  missing  in  action  at  Shoal  Creek,  November  5,  1864. 

Scott,  Douglas,  missing  in  action  at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  July  1,  1862. 

Weller,  Stafford  D.,  died  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  November  10,  1862. 

COMPANY  I. 

Lamkin,  Frank  H.,  died  at  Bopneville,  Mississippi,  June  30,  1862. 
Houre,  Augustus,  died  in  hospital  at  Stevenson,  September  1, 1863. 
Bugbee,  John,  died  at  Benton  Barracks,  February  13,  1862. 
Colwell,  JohnM,  died  at  Rienzi.  August  13,  1862. 

Lamkin,  Reuben  R. ,  died  at  Nashville,  March,  29, ,  of  wounds  received  in 

action. 

Lewis,  Franklin  H.,  died  at  Farmiugton,  July  13,  1862. 
Myers,  Friend  M.,  missing  in  action  at  Blackland,  June  24,  1$62. 
Simmons,  George,  died  on  furlough,  May  30,  1862. 
Butcher,  William  II.,  died  at  Nashville,  September  17,  1864. 
Tallman,  Frank,  died  atDansville,  Ky.,  August  20,  1863. 
Fesscnden,  William,  died  at  Stevenson,  November  2,  1863. 
Moon,  Henry,  died  at  Chattanooga,  July  5,  1864. 

Peas,  Charles  II.,  died  on  furlough  at  Brighton,  Mich.,  October  31,  1864. 
Rex,  Alfred,  missing  at  Shoal  Creek,  November  5,  1864. 
Wheeler,  Richard,  died  at  Knoxville,  May  14,  1864. 

COMPANY   K. 

McMillen,  Samuel,  died  at  Nashville,  January,  1864. 
Hill,  Robert,  died  at  St.  Louis,  February  9,  1888. 
Alleo,  Benjamin,  died  at  New  Madrid,  March  ',':!.  lsr»2. 
Cook,  Leo,  died  near  Corinth,  June  13,  1862. 
Evarts,  I,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  October  25,  1862. 
Hiptenberger,  Joseph,  died  at  Rienzi,  August  11,  1862. 
Haywood,  Charles,  died  at  Farmington,  July  ;j,  1S(>3. 
Haywood,  Calvin,  died  at  Farmiugton,  July  5, 1862. 


ROLL    OF    HONOR.  9 

Gamble,  Robert  C.,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  January  14,  1865,  of  wounds  received 

in  action. 

Lewis,  Elisha,  died  at  Murfreesboro.  March  25,  1863. 
Leonard,  John,  died  at  Rienzi,  July  7,  1862. 
Lewis,  Absalom,  died  on  furlough. 
Stephen,  Lyman,  died  at  Rienzi,  July  8,  1862. 
Dell,  John  W.,  died  at  Nashville,  July  14, 1864. 
Dillingham,  Stephen,  drowned,  April  9,  1865. 
Maples,  Comstock,  died  at  Louisville,  December  13,  1864. 
Mapes,  Charles,  died  at  Nashville,  November  15,  1864. 
Smith,  Recompense,  died  at  Franklin,  July  20,  1864. 
Smith,  Joseph,  died  of  wounds,  December  24,  1864. 
Snyder,  John,  missing  in  action  at  Franklin,  November  30,  1864. 
Washburn, ,  died  in  the  service,  March  16,  1863. 

COMPANY  L. 

Thomas,  William  P.,  died  near  Farmington,  June  25,  1862. 

Barnhouse,  W.  H..  mi«singin  action  at  Booneville,  Mississippi,  July  1,  1862. 

Anderson,  Albert  P.,  died  July  3, 1862,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Booneville. 

Bee,  John,  killed  at  Booneville. 

Corwin,  N.  W.,  died  near  Corinth,  July  22,  1862. 

Eisley,  Felix,  killed  near  Mossy  Creek,  December  29,  1863. 

Hunter,  JohnF..  died  near  Rienzi,  August  6,  1862. 

Park,  James,  died  at  Hamburg. 

Moore,  L.  D.,  missing  in  action  at  Booneville.     Returned  and  died  of  wounds  at 

Shoal  Creek,  December  1,  1864. 
Reed,  Albert,  died  at  New  Madrid,  April  13,  1862. 
Turner,  A.  W.,  missing  at  Booneville,  July  1,  1862. 
Williams,  Theodore,  died  at  Andersonville. 
Wooden,  Timothy,  died  at  St.  Louis,  January  21,  1862. 
Baker,  Hiram,  died  at  Louisville,  March  22,  1864. 
Gadbold,  William,  died  at  Andersonville.     Missing  at  Dandridge. 
Manchester,  George,  died  at  Nashville,  June  23,  1864. 
Pray,  Paris  L.,  died  at  Nashville,  December  28,  1864. 
Snyder,  Jacob,  died  at  Nashville,  April  4,  1864. 

Stevens,  F.  S.,  died  of  wounds  at  Thompson's  Station,  March  4,  1863. 
Stevens,  Colonel  J.,  died  at  Nashville,  January  1,  1865. 
Thomas,  Ezra,  died  at  Nashville,  March  31,  1864. 
Wightman,  Charles,  killed  at  Lynnville,  December  24,  1864. 

COMPANY  M. 

Darrow,  First  Lieutenant  Russell  T.,  killed  at  Cypress. Creek,  October  7,  1864. 

Sweeney,  Frank,  missing  at  Chicamauga. 

Murdock,  Daniel,  died  at  Rienzi.  July  15,  1862. 

Alexander,  Edward,  killed  at  Glasgow,  Ky.,  December  4,  1862. 

Birdsell,  William,  missing  at  Severeville,  January  27,  1864. 

Bratt,  Rufus,  died  on  furlough. 

Boyer,  Marion,  died  in  hospital  at  Keokuk,  1862. 

Cowan,  Robert  H.,  died  at  New  Madrid,  April  10,  1862. 

Clark,  Jetson,  died  in  hospital  at  Keokuk. 

Dooley,  Patrick,  missing  at  Brentwood. 

Fancher,  David,  died  at  Farmington,  May  12,  1862. 

Gaines,  Sullivan,  died  at  Knoxville,    February  2,  1864,  of  wounds  received    in 

action . 

Harris,  Hiram  J.,  died  at  St.  Louis,  May  30,  1862. 
Hutton,  C.  C.,  died  at  Rienzi,  August  9,  1862. 
Jenks,  George,  died  at  New  Madrid,  April  13,  1862. 
Norcott,  E.  \V.,  died  on  furlough,  April  3,  1862. 
Potter,  Charles  H.,  killed  at  Dandridge. 
Ploof,  Charles,  died  on  furlough. 
Baker,  John,  died  at  Nashville,  March  18,  1864. 
Dean,  Silas,  died  at  Chattanooga,  June  28,  1864. 
Kuhn,  James,  missing  at  Dandridge. 


10  THE  ADJUTANT'S  REMARKS. 

Spaulding,  A.  M.,  died  September  23,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Chicamauga. 

Allen,  Benjamin  F.,  died  at  Nashville,  September  11,  1864. 

Miller,  Jacob,  died  in  hospital. 

Mickersell,  Solomon,  died  at  Waterloo,  Ala.,  March  11,  INI;:,. 

Moser,  Abraham,  killed  in  action  at  Fair  Garden,  January  27,  1864. 

Norcutt,  Warren  B.,  died  at  Franklin,  August  22,  1864. 

Phillips,  D.  0.,  died  in  hospital. 

Walters,  Charles  F.,  missing  at  Chicamauga. 

Walker,  Henry,  died  on  furlough. 

Whitman,  Charles,  drowned. 

Williams,  William  II.,  died  of  sunstroke. 


THE  ADJUTANT'S  REMARKS. 

No  returns  previous  to  December,  1861. 

December  1861 — Stationed  at  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  No  re 
marks. 

January,  1862— The  same. 

February,  1862 — In  the  field  en  route  from  St.  Louis  to  New  Madrid,  Mis 
souri.  No  remarks. 

April  5,  1862 — Near  New  Madrid,  Missouri.     No  remarks. 

May  9,  1862 — Near  Farmiugton,  Mississippi.     No  remarks. 

June  20,  1862 — Near  Farmington,  Mississippi.     No  remarks. 
i.       July  14,  1862 — Near  Booneville,  Mississippi.    No  remarks. 

July,  1862 — No  station  given.     No  remarks. 

August,  1862 — Near  Rienzi,  Mississippi.     No  remarks. 

October  30,  1862 — Near  Louisville,  Kentucky,     No  remarks. 

November  16,1862 — New  Market,  Kentucky.     No  remarks. 

December  16.  1862 — Lebanon,  Kentucky.     No  remarks. 

December,  1862 — Nicholasville,  Kentucky.     No  remarks. 

January,  1863 — Louisville,  Kentucky.     No  remarks. 

February,  1863 — Franklin,  Tennessee.     No  remarks. 

March,  1863 — Franklin,  Tennessee.     No  remarks. 

April,  1863 — Franklin,  Tennessee.     No  remarks. 

May — 10  A.  M.  May  1 — Regiment  returned  from  reconnaissance  on  Lewisburg 
pike,  etc.,  result,  twelve  rebels  killed  and  wounded  as  far  as  heard  from,  twelve 
others  taken  prisoners;  till  14th,  usual  camp,  picket  and  scout  duty  every  day ; 
15th,  regiment  aroused  at  2  A.  M.,  and  moved  half  an  hour  later  to  the  village  of 
Hillsborough;  while  crossing  the  West  Harpeth  river  George  Beutter,  company 
H,  was  drowned ;  usual  camp,  picket  and  scout  duty  till  end  of  month. 

June,  1863 — Near  Manchester,  Tennessee ;  2d,  move  camp  to  Triune,  Tennessee, 
from  Franklin,  Tennessee;  4tb,  reaching  there  at  6:30 P.  M.  ;had  a  sharp  skirmish; 
two  of  our  men  company  D  killed,  three  others  wounded;  known  rebel  loss, 
fifty-three  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Returned  to  Triune  6th;  9th, the  rebels  at 
tacked  camp  at  Triune;  our  regiment  moved  to  the  front  and  drove  the  enemy — 
no  loss;  llth,  another  reconnaissance  to  the  front,  no  loss,  in  the  morning  picket 
party  lost  one  sergeant  killed,  one  private  taken  prisoner,  seven  horses  and  equip 
ments  lost.  Till  22d,  usual  guard,  scout  and  picket  duty;  23d,  moved  for  a  long 
scout,  without  tents,  change  of  clothing  or  baggage,  along  with  whole  of  first 
division.  Engagement  at  Rover,  Tennessee,  one  man  wounded;  24th  marched  to 
Middleton;  skirmished  from  noon  till  dark;  one  man  wounded;  25th,  26th,  on  the 
inarch;  27th,  charged  the  enemy  seven  miles  into  Shelby ville,  Tennessee;  three  of 
our  ^regiment  missing.  Rebels  lost  about  eight  hundred  killed,  wounded  and 
missing;  it  is  supposed  that  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  drowned  in  attempting 
to  cross  Duck  river.  Rumor  says  that  about  two  thousand  rebels  were  lost,  one 
thousand  two  hundred  of  the  number  embracing  the  opportunity  of  a  general  rout 
to  desert  to  their  homes;  28th,  Shelby  ville  and  march;  29th,  back  to  Shelby  ville  and 
march  to  Hoover's  Gap ;  30th,  on  the  march,  rained  every  day  and  night  since 
starting,  23d  inst. 


THE  ADJUTANT'S  REMARKS.  11 

July — Near  Winchester,  Tennessee;  1st  and  2d,  on  the  march;  3d,  Decherd, 
Cowan,  Tennessee,  drove  the  rebels,  took  a  number  of  prisoners;  4th  and  5th,  two 
miles  out  of  Decherd;  6th,  7th.  8th  and  9th,  Franklin,  Tennessee,  between  Salem 
and  Winchester;  10th,  llth  and  12th,  Salem,  Tenn.;  13th,  New  Market,  Ala. ;  14th. 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  and  long  march ;  15th.  16th.  17th,  Huntsville,  Ala. ;  18th,  19th  and 
2()th  (two battalions),  New  Market;  21st,  Winchester;  22d,  on  the  march;  23d, 
24th,  25th,  Fayetteville,  Tennessee;  26th,  march,  Salem,  Tennessee;  27th,  28th, 
Salem  (company  desks,  tents  and  baggage  reached  regiment);  29th,  march  Win 
chester;  30th,  31st,  near  Winchester,  Tennessee.  Two  first  weeks  in  the  month 
it  rained  every  day  and  every  night.  Government  provisions  and  forage  very 
scarce,  stringent  orders  against  leaving  camp. 

August — Bridgeport,  Alabama;  1st,  on  the  march,  Salem,  Tennessee;  2d, 
march  Fayetteville,  Tennessee,  remaining  there  until  the  10th,  usual  guard  and 
picket  duties;  llth,  march,  Walker,  Alabama;  12th,  march  Huntsville,  Alabama; 
13th,  Maysville,  Alabama;  14th,  Larkinville,  Alabama;  15th,  on  a  scout,  killed  two 
rebels,  wounded  one.  took  two  prisoners;  16th,  march,  Stevenson  and  Bolivar, 
Alabama;  17th  to  26th,  at  Bolivar,  usual  guard  and  picket  duties;  27th,  march 
Bridgeport,  Alabama;  28th,  forded  the  Tennessee  river,  the  first  regiment  without 
loss  of  man  or  horse — lost  several  guns  by  horses  getting  into  deep  water,  and 
men  falling  off;  29th  to  31st,  opposite  Bridgeport,  scouted  in  the  mountains  as  far 
east  as  Georgia, taking  several  prisoners. 

September — Near  Jasper,  Tennessee;  1st,  bivouacked  opposite  Bridgeport;  2d, 
scouted  on  Raccoon  mountain  and  back  twenty  miles;  3d,  inarched  down  on  left 
bank  liver  to  Caperton's  Ferry,  eighteen  miles;  4th,  crossed  Raccoon  mountain 
to  Valley  Head,  twenty-two  miles;  5th,  moved  down  the  valley  five  miles;  6th,  7th, 
8th,  in  same  place;  9th  crossed  Lookout  mountain  to  Alpine,  Ga.,  eighteen  miles; 
10th,  scorned  towards  Rome  six  miles  and  back;  llth,  same;  12th,  marched  toward 
Lafayette,  ten  miles;  13th,  ninth  Pennsylvania  m  advance,  run  into  a  heavy 
force  near  Lafayette,  our  regiment  covered  the  ground  while  the  wounded  were 
removed,  then  covered  the  retreat,  marched  back  to  Alpine,  marched  twenty-six 
miles;  141  h,  inarched  to  Lookout  mountain,  eight  miles;  15th,  crossed  down  to 
Little  Wills  Valley  twelve  miles;  16th.  crossed  Lookout  mountain  to  McLamore's 
Cove,  sixteen  miles;  17th,  marched  down  the  Cove,  four  miles;  18th,  first  bat 
talion  scouted  to  Blue  Bird  Gap;  19th,  joined  the  infantry  line  at  Pond  Springs, 
enemy  in  view,  but  little  skirmishing;  20th,  on  the  right  in  the  Chicamauga 
battle,  guarded  the  train  to  Chattanooga  in  the  night;  21st,  crossed  the  river  and 
went  to  Harrison's  Ferry,  fourteen  miles;  22d  to  27th,  guarding  fords  and  ferry, 
from  Harrison's  Ferry  to  Thacher's  Ferry,  fifteen  miles  above;  sent  the  scouting 
parties  across  the  river,  one  man  wounded  and  three  captnred;  28th,  marched  to 
Chattanooga,  fourteen  miles;  29th,  marched  to  Rankin's  Ferry,  twenty-five  miles; 
30th,  at  Rankin's  Ferry. 

October— Winchester,  Tennessee;  1st,  guarding  Rankin's  Ferry  and  fords; 
2d,  marched  up  kjequatchee  Valley  to  Anderson's  Crossroads,  to  protect  the 
wagon  train;  received  notice  of  the  enemy  burning  the  train  eleven  o'clock  A.  M., 
learned  the  enemy  were  repulsed  by  Col.  McCook;  returned  to  Rankin's  Ferry; 
marched  thirty-two  miles;  3d,  started  on  the  Wheeler  chase,  marched  thirty-two 
miles;  4th,  joined  brigade  at  Walnut  Grove,  passed  through  Dunlap,  bivouacked  on 
Cumberland  mountain,  marched  thirty  miles;  5th,  marched  through  McMinnville 
and  Woodbury.  marched  fifty-five  miles;  6th,  marched  to  Murfreesboro,  drew 
rations,  marched  near  Shelbyville,  marched  twenty-five  miles;  7th;  passed  through 
Unioniown,  camped  on  Duck  river,  marched  twenty-seven  miles;  8th,  passed 
through  Rainy  Spring,  Lewisburg  and  Connersville,  marched  thirty  miles;  9th, 
passed  through  Pulaski,  camped  at  Rogersville,  four  miles  from  Lamb's  Ferry, 
Tennessee  river;  10th,  left  Rogersville  and  marched  ten  miles;  llth,  marched 
twenty-one  miles;  12th,  marched  to  lluntsville,  on  provost  guard,  at  this  place 
captured  several  prisoners,  marched  twenty-five  miles;  13th,  passed  through  New 
Market  after  Roddy's  rebel  brigade,  marched  twenty-three  miles;  14th,  marched  to 
Branchville,  marched  eighteen  miles;  15th,  passed  through  Salem,  camped  five 
miles  from  Winchester,  inarched  nine  miles;  16th  to  19th,  in  camp  at  same  place; 
20th,  moved  camp  to  Winchester;  21st  to  25th,  same  place;  26th,  moved  to 
Decherd  station,  three  miles;  26th  to  30th,  same  place;  31st,  moved  to  Winchester 
three  miles. 

November — Sparta,  Tennessee;  1st  to  8th,  in  camp  at  Winchester  doing  usual 


12 

camp  and  picket  duty;  9th  to  14th,  on  scouting  and  foraging  expedition  to  Fayet- 
teville,  thirty-five  miles  west  of  Winchester,  a  part  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania 
accompanying,  brought  in  about  four  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  sixty-five  head 
of  beef  cattle,  and  between  five  and  six  hundred  head  of  sheep,  also 
several  horses  and  mules;  15th,  in  camp;  16th,  marched  sixteen  miles;  17th,  passed 
through  Shelby ville,  marched  fourteen  miles;  18th,  marched  twenty  miles,  camped 
at  Murf reesboro ;  19th,  in  camp;  20th,  marched  twenty  miles,  camped  at  Milton; 
21st,  marched  fourteen  miles,  camped  at  Liberty;  22d  to  27th,  in  camp  doing 
usual  camp  and  picket  duty;  28th,  marched  twenty-three  miles,  passed  through 
Smithville,  camped  on  Rainy  Fork;  29th,  marched  six  miles,  one  man  of  company 
G  killed  by  bushwhackers;  30th,  in  camp. 

December — Near  Mossy  Creek,  Tennessee;  1st,  marched  east  to  Sparta,  Ten 
nessee,  remaining  until  the  8th,  when  the  regiment  moved  up  the  Cumberland 
mountains,  passing  over  and  down  the  same  through  Crossville,  reaching  King 
ston,  Tennessee,  13th,  thence  eastwardly;  14th,  15th,  16th,  through  Knoxville, 
fording  the  Holston  river,  and  arriving  at  Strawberry  Plains  17th.  On  the  18th 
forded  and  re-forded  the  Holston  four  miles  above  Strawberry  Plains,  moving 
several  miles  to  the  northeast  and  returning  to  Strawberry  Plains  on  morning  of 
the  19! h,  remaining  in  camp  there  till  the  23d,  when  the  regiment  removed  to. 
New  Market,  Tennessee;  24th,  in  connection  with  the  remainder  of  first  brigade 
marched  to  Dandridge,  and  engaged  a  vastly  superior  force  of  the  rebels,  return 
ing  late  at  night  to  New  Market.  In  this  engagement  one  officer  was  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner,  one  other  badly  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  one  other  sprained 
ankle  by  horse  falling,  two  enlisted  men  were  killed,  nine  taken  prisoners,  and 
seven  wounded— total  casualties  twenty-one;  25th,  marched  to  Mossy  Creek,  Ten 
nessee,  remained  near  that  place  till  end  of  month,  On  29th,  another  skirmish 
with  the  rebels.  One  officer  badly  wounded,  one  enlisted  man  killed,  two  taken 
prisoners,  and  four  wounded — total  casualties  eight. 

During  1863  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  twenty-four  battles  or  important 
skirmishes,  and  on  each  occasion  met  with  Josses,  in  addition  to  minor  actions  in 
which  no  losses  occurred.  Marched  over  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles  in  addition  to  picketing,  scouting  and  foraging  sorties,  which  were  equal  at 
least  in  length  to  the  regular  marches. 

January,  1864— Marysville,  Tennessee;  1st,  2d  and  3d,  in  camp  two  miles 
from  Mossy  Creek,  Tennessee;  4th,  marched  to  the  rear  two  miles;  5th  to  13th,  in 
camp  near  Mossy  Creek;  14th.  marched  twenty-two  miles,  camped  near  Dandridge; 
15th,  in  camp;  16th,  marched  four  miles  on  Indian  Creek  road;  17th,  marched  to 
the  front  to  relieve  the  second  brigade  in  line  of  battle  until  midnight;  18th, 
marched  twenty-seven  miles,  crossed  the  Holston,  camped  near  Strawberry 
Plains;  19th,  marched  seventeen  miles:  passed  through  Knoxville, 
crossed  the  Holston  river  ;  20th,  marched  fifteen  miles  ;  21st, 
marched  twenty-two  miles;  22d,  in  camp:  23d,  marched  four  miles, 
camped  on  Flat  creek;  24th,  marched  eight  miles;  25th,  marched  twenty-two 
miles,  camped  on  Pigeon  river;  26th,  broke  camp  at  midnight,  marched  twenty 
miles;  27th,  formed  line  of  battle  at  daylight,  engHged  the  enemy,  eleven  wounded, 
two  missing,  marched  twenty  miles;  28th,  marched  twenty  miles.  One  man  of 
company  L  captured  by  rebel  infantry;  29th,  marched  twenty  miles,  passed 
through  Severeville;  30th,  marched  ten  miles,  camped  near  Marysville. 

February — Chestua  creek,  Monroe  county,  Tennessee;  1st  to  8th,  in  camp 
near  Marysville,  Tennessee;  9th,  marched  eighteen  miles,  forded  Little  Tennessee 
river,  camped  on  Four  Mile  creek,  Monroe  county,  Tennessee;  10th  to  16th,  in 
camp  at  last  named  place;  17th,  marched  ten  miles,  camped  near  Citaco  creek, 
Monroe  county,  Tennessee;  18th  to  22d,  in  camp  at  last  named  .place;  23d, 
marched  twenty-three  miles,  camped  near  Chestua  creek,  Monroe  county,  Ten 
nessee;  24th  to  29th.  in  camp  at  last  named  place. 

March— Cleveland,  Tennessee;  1st,  2d  and  3d,  in  camp  at  Chestua  creek, 
near  Madisonville,  Tennessee;  4th,  marched  twenty-five  miles  to  Calhoun;  5th  to 
lltlviiirampat  Calhoun;  12th,  marched  twelve  miles  to  Cleveland,  Tennessee;  13th 
to  31st,  in  camp  at  Cleveland,  Tennessee.  March  2yth  about  three  hundred  of 
the  men  were  mustered  into  the  service  as  veteran  volunteers. 

MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  NON-VETERANS. 

April— From  April  1st  to  30th,  in  camp  at  Cleveland,  Tennessee.  April  14th, 


13 

three  hundred  and  fifteen  re-enlisted  veterans  left  for  Michigan  on  furlough. 

May— 1st  and  2d,  in  camp  at  Cleveland,  Tennessee;  3d,  marched  fourteen 
miles  on  Daltou  road  to  Mount  Pleasant  church;  7th,  marched  seven  miles  to 
Varnet  Station  skirmishing;  8th,  marched  one  and  a  half  miles  in  line  of  battle 
toward  Buzzard's  Roost;  10th,  two  miles  in  line;  llth,  marched  through  Tunnel 
Hill  to  Dug  Gap,  fifteen  miles;  12th,  in  fortifications  in  front  of  Dug  Gap;  13th, 
marched  through  Dug  Gap,  skirmishing;  14th,  advance  of  division  on  Tilton 
road,  skirmishing,  loss  one  killed,  three  wounded,  marched  twenty  five  miles;  15th, 
made  breastworks  at  Tilton;  16th,  crossed  Coosa  waters,  ten  miles;  17th,  four 
miles;  18th,  twelve  miles  on  Cassville  road;  19th,  marched  eight  miles  on  Cassville, 
road,  skirmishing,  20th,  marched  six  miles  to  Cassville  Station;  22d,  marched 
ten  miles  to  Etowah  river  and  guarded  fords;  23d,  forded  Etowah,  marched 
ten  miles;  24th,  advance  guard  Burnt  Hickory  road,  skirmished  enemy,  two 
men  wounded,  twelve  miles;  25th,  marched  seven  miles;  26th,  marched  four 
miles,  skirmishing,  two  wounded;  27th,  skirmished  enemy,  one  wounded,  two 
missing;  28th,  skirmished  enemy,  two  wounded;  31st,  in  camp  near  Dallas  and 
Hamilton  Crossroads. 

June — 2d,  marched  four  miles  on  Ackworth  aud  Dallas  road  skirmishing; 
5th,  skirmished  enemy  at  same  place,  captured  one  prisoner;  8th,  marched 
eighteen  miles.;  9th,  marched  five  miles;  10th,  patrolling  the  Marietta  road;  14th, 
marched  four  miles  to  Ackworth;  16th,  marched  eight  miles  toward  Lost  moun 
tain;  17th,  marched  six  miles  to  top  of  Lost  mountain;  20th,  scouted  to  Powder 
Springs  twelve  miles;  26th,  on  scout  to  Powder  Springs;  28th,  marched  to  Ack 
worth,  ten  miles. 

VETERANS     RETURNED. 

July — Guarding  railroad  from  Nashville  to  Rutherford^creek. 

August — 1st  to  29th,  guarding  railroad  from  Brentwood  to  Rutherford 
creek,  Tennessee;  29th.  marched  to  .Nashville  nineteen  miles;  30th,  marched 
twelve  miles  toward  Murfreesboro,  skirmished  Wheeler's  raiders,  lost  one  man 
missing  from  company  C;  31st,  marched  five  miles  toward  Franklin. 

September — 1st,  marched  fifteen  miles  to  Franklin,  Tennessee,  skirmished 
Wheeler's  raiders;  2d,  marched  to  Columbia,  twenty-seven  miles;  3d,  laid  at 
Columbia;  4th,  marched  ten  miles  on  Pulaski  pike;  5th,  marched  to  near 
Campbellville,  skirmished  enemy  in  afternoon,  moved  on  to  Lawrenceburgh, 
twenty-nine  miles;  6th,  marched  to  Military  road,  twenty-five  miles;  7th,  marched 
to  Florence,  Alabama,  ten  miles;  8th,  marched  twenty  miles  on  Military  road 
towards  Nashville;  9th,  marched  to  near  Pulaski,  twenty-five  miles;  10th,  marched 
twenty  miles;  llth,  twenty  miles;  12th,  thirteen  miles  to  Franklin;  12th  to  25th, 
camped  at  Franklin;  25th,  marched  beyond  Columbia  thirty-three  miles;  26th, 
marched  to  Pulaski;  27th,  fought  all  day  with  Forrest's  command,  lost  one  man 
killed;  28th,  marched  to  Conuersville,  seventeen  miles;  29th,  marclied  to  Shelby  - 
ville,  twenty-five  miles;  30th,  marched  via  Normandy  to  Tullahorna,  twenty- 
five  miles. 

October — 1st,  marched  from  nearTullahoma,  Tennessee,  to  Winchester,  eight 
miles;  2d,  marched  twenty-four  miles  towards  Shelby  ville;  3d,  marched  twenty- 
nine  miles,  camped  near  Lewisburg;  4th,  marched  twenty-seven  miles  to  within 
ten  miles  of  Pulaski;  5th,  marched  eighteen  miles  on  Lewisburg  road;  6th, 
marched  thirty-six  miles  on  Military  road;  7th,  marched  fifteen  miles,  met  the 
enemy  and  charged  on  them.  Lieutenant  Darrow.  company  M,  and  three  men 
killed,  two  wounded;  8th,  marched  fifteen  miles;  9th,  marched  twenty  miles;  10th, 
marched  twenty-five  miles,  camped  on  Military  road,  twelve  miles  from  Halls; 
llth,  marclied  thirty-six  miles  toward  Pulaski;  12th,  in  camp  on  Hurricane  creek; 
13th,  marched  twelve  miles,  camped  near  Pulaski  pike;  14th.  in  camp;  15th, 
marched  to  Sugar  creek,  twenty-nine  miles;  16th,  inarched  twenty-one  miles;  17th, 
to  30th,  in  camp  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  river;  30th,  went  out,  met  the 
enemy,  turned  twck,  went  to  Rogersville;  31st,  marched  to  Sugar  creek,  14  miles. 

November — 1st,  marched  from  Blue  Waters  to  Col.  Huff's,  thence  to  Shoal 
creek,  Alabama, and  encamped,  fifteen  miles;  2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  enemy  attacked  and 
forced  us  back  to  Four  Mile  Creek,  Alabama;  loss  heavy;  9th  to  14th,  in  camp; 
15th,  on  reconnaissance  to  the  right,  camped  at  Taylor  Springs;  15th  to  20th,  in 
camp  at  Taylor  Springs;  20th,  marched  to  Lexington,  Tennessee,  eight  miles;  21st, 
to  Lawrenceburgh,  Tennessee,  enemy  attacked  us  about  four  p.  M.,  fell  back 


14 

towards  Campbell villc  to  within  three  miles  of  Columbia  and  encamped;  25th1 
marched  across  Duck  river;  26th,  in  camp;  27th,  marched  five  miles;  28th 
marched  fourteen  miles  east  of  Lewisburg  pike,  formed  line  of  battle,  laid  in  line 
all  night;  29th,  fell  back  sixteen  miles,  encamped  near  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
skirmished  with  the  enemy  all  day;  30th,  engaged  enemy  all  day,  lost  one  kill 
ed,  seventeen  wounded,  and  three  missing. 

December — 1st,  marched  eighteen  miles  from  near  Franklin  to  within  five 
miles  of  Nashville,  lay  inline  of  battle  all  night;  2d,  marched  through  Nash 
ville  to  Edgefield,  seven  miles,  crossed  the  Cumberland  river;  3d  to  llth,  in 
camp  at  Edgeficld;  12th,  marched  from  Edgefield  across  the  Cumberland  river 
through  Nashville,  four  miles,  and  encamped  on  Charlotte  pike;  13lh  and  14th, 
in  camp;  15th,  advanced  two  miles,  dismounted  and  skirmished  on  foot  all  day, 
mounted  at  sunset  and  marched  six  miles;  16th,  marched  twenty  miles,  one  man 
of  company  B  wounded  by  General  Hammond's  command  firing  into  the  column 
by  mistake;  17th,  crossed  the  Franklin  pike,  swam  Harpeth  river,  marched  twenty 
miles;  18th,  inarched  ten  miles  to  Spring  Hill;  19th,  in  camp;  20th,  marched  ten 
miles,  camped  on  Rutherford  creek;  21st  and  22d,  in  camp;  23d,  marched 
across  Duck  river  through  Columbia,  ten  miles,  24th,  regiment  in  advance  on 
pike,  fought  all  day,  made  a  charge  mounted  and  drove  the  enemy  sixteen  miles, 
two  men  killed  and  six  wounded;  25tb,  marched  fifteen  miles  through  Pulaski; 
26th,  marched  twelve  miles  to  near  Sugar  Creek;  27th,  in  camp;  28th,  marched 
eighteen  miles,  camped  near  Taylor  Springs;  29th,  marched  fifteen  miles,  camped 
on  Little  Cypress  river;  30th,  marched  to  Waterloo;  31st,  in  camp, 
company  I  and  twelve  men  of  company  G,  with  General  McCoofc,  in  Kentucky 
after  horses  and  did  not  return  until  the  last  of  the  month,  brought  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  horses. 

January,  1865 — From  1st  to  17th  in  camp  at  Waterloo,  Ala,;  17th,  marched 
eight  miles,  across  the  Tennessee  river,  passed  through  Eastport;  18th,  marched 
twenty  miles,  passed  through  luka  and  Burnsville,  captured  six  prisoners;  19th, 
marched  twenty-five  miles,  went  into  Corinth,  and  returned  to  Farmington;  20th, 
marched  twenty  miles,  camped  at  luka,  captured  five  prisoners;  21st,  marched 
fifteen  miles,  passed  through  Eastport,  crossed  the  Tennessee  river,  returned  to 
old  camp;  from  21st  to  31st,  in  camp  at  Waterloo. 

February — From  1st  to  28th,  in  camp  at  Waterloo,  Alabama. 

March — From  1st  to  10th,  in  camp  at  Waterloo,  Alabama;  llth,  moved  across 
the  river,  marched  five  miles;  from  llth  to  22d,  in  camp  at  Chickasaw,  Alabama; 
22d,  marched  sixteen  miles;  23d,  marched  four  miles;  24th,  marched  thirty  miles, 
passed  through  Frankfort,  and  Kussellville;  25th,  marched  thirty  miles,  crossed 
Big  Ford  creek  and  Buttehatchie  river;  26th,  marched  twenty-five  miles  on  Jas 
per  road,  passed  through  Eldridge;  27th,  marched  thirty  miles,  passed  through 
Jasper;  28th,  crossed  the  Mulberry  river,  marched  ten  miles;  29th,  crossed  Black 
Warrior  river,  marched  sixteen  miles;  30th,  passed  through  Elyton,  marched 
fourteen  miles;  31st,  marched  twenty-eight  miles  on  Tuscaloosa  road. 

April — 1st,  marched  in  northward  direction  thirty  miles  to  Johnston  Ferry; 
2d,  crossed  Black  Warrior  river  on  a  scow,  horses  swam,  marched  twelve  miles; 
3d,  marched  thirty-five  miles  to  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  surprised  and  captured  the 
pickets  at  the  bridge,  entered  the  town,  captured  three  cannon  and  a  large  num 
ber  of  prisoners;  4th,  formed  line  of  battle  around  Tuscaloosa,  remained  there 
until  the  morning  of  the  5th,  crossed  the  river,  burned  some  government  buildings 
and  the  bridge,  marched  thirty-four  miles,  crossed  Sipsey  creek,  three  battalions 
remained  there  until  4  r.  M.,  Co.  F  was  sent  out  on  a  scout  in  the  morning,  crossed 
at  a  ferry  twelve  miles  below  town;  6th,  marched  to  Bridgeville,  crossed  Sipsey 
creek,  met  General  Adams  commanding,  started  for  Tuscaloosa. 
sixth  Kentucky  in  rear  was  now  pressed  hard,  second  Michigan  halted  and  formed 
line  of  battle  to  relieve  sixth  Kentucky,  repulsed  the  enemy,  three 
men  wounded,  marched  fort}''  miles;  7th,  marched  to  Northport, 
twenty  miles;  8th,  marched  north  thirteen  miles;  9th,  in  camp:  10th,  in  camp; 
llth,  marched  to  Windham  Springs,  twenty  miles;  12th,  marched  in  a  northerly 
direction;  13th,  inarched  fifteen  miles,  crossed  Wolf  creek;  14th,  marched  twenty- 
seven  miles,  crossed  Lost  creek  and  Black  Warrior  river;  15th,  marched  eight 
miles  to  Lindley  Ferry;  sixteenth,  second  and  third  battalions  crossed  Sipsey 
river;  17th,  marched  ten  miles;  18th,  marched  sixteen  miles,  crossed  Mulberry 
river;  ,19th,  crossed  Black  Warrior  river  at  Minnter's  Ferry,  marched  sixteen 


THE    ADJUTANTS    REMARKS.  15 

miles  to  James  Valley;  20th,  marched  twenty  miles,  easterly  direction;  21st, 
marched  thirteen  miles  to  Luf's  Ferry;  22d,  crossed  Coosa  river,  marched  twelve 
miles  to  Talladega;  23d,  marched  thirty  miles,  skirmished  with  General  Hill's 
brigade,  captured  one  p:ece  of  artillery,  two  men  killed;  24th,  marched  thirty 
miles  southeast  direction,  crossed  branch  of  Talladega  Yiver;  25th,  marched 
thirty  miles,  passed  through  Bowdon,  Ga.,  crossed  Tallapoosa  river;  26th, 
marched  twenty-four  miles,  crossed  Chattahoochee  river;  27th,  marched  twenty- 
five  miles  towards  Macon;  28th,  marched  thirty  miles;  29th,  marched  sixteen 
miles;  30th,  marched  eighteen  miles,  passed  through  Forsyth. 

May — 1st,  marched  eight  miles,  camped  near  Macon,  Ga. ;  from  May  1st  to 
31st,  in  camp. 

June — 1st  to  30th,  in  camp  at  Macon,  Ga. 

July — 16th  and  17th,  companies  D  and  L  marched  to  Perry,  sixty  miles, 
to  take  charge  of  post,  companies  G  and  M  to  Thomaston,  fifty  miles,  company  I 
to  Barnesville,  forty  miles,  company  B  to  Forsyth,  twenty-five  miles,  companies 
F  and  K  to  Milledgeyille,  thirty-five  miles. 


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